The commemoration of Youth Day must not be confined to the events of 1976.

It must also remind us about the responsibilities of the youth in the revolution. It must also reaffirm the position of the youth in social relations.

The Youth Day commemorations must not be for black youth only. The white working-class youth were abducted from schools to serve two years in the SADF in defence of apartheid capitalism.

Marion Sparg joined the ranks of MK and even pulled off operations inside the country for a non-racial South Africa.

There were working-class youth of all races all over the world who participated in anti-apartheid marches.

Youth celebrations must encourage the youth to be active members of youth organisations.

The youth must make education fashionable; they must make discipline their principle. They must be proud to be in the struggle for the emancipation of women, and of society as a whole. These commemorations must revive the revolutionary character of the South African youth. - Tshepo Semudi, Soweto

YOUTH Day marked 18 years as an official holiday of a landmark liberation event that shook apartheid South Africa 36 years ago.

Divide those two figures and we have 18, the most telling year in the life of young people. It is an age that defines the future of young citizens, the crossroads of choices, how they navigate the future into the real world of labour or enjoy the right to university education.

Maybe, 18 years later, we have failed our future citizens as the majority of the population aged 21 to 35 is unemployed.

It is time for government to experiment with its youth wage subsidy. Cosatu, business, small business and black economic empowerment beneficiaries should heed this ticking time bomb of youth joblessness. It is best we give our youth half a loaf now than face another revolt.