Youth Day Orlando Stadium

A bright yellow ANC helicopter circled over Orlando Stadium in Soweto where thousands of energetic young people gathered on Thursday morning, to commemorate 35 years since the June 16 Soweto uprising of 1976.

Thousands of people were brought to their feet by former Boom Shaka member, Thembi Seete.

One song even got a group of grannies off their chairs, and jiving to the beat. Drums rolled outside the stadium which by lunch time was almost filled to capacity by colourfully dressed youth, some who opted to be in school uniform, as well as older spectators.

Many sang and danced as they walked to the stadium entrance after being ferried by bus.

Revving their engines and billowing smoke, a group of bikers with ANC flags stationed themselves outside the stadium, waiting to welcome President Jacob Zuma, who is expected to give a keynote address.

A group of Ivory Park Secondary School matric pupils shared their feelings on the auspicious day.

"It means tons to me... those people fought for us in 1976, and now we can go to school. This day is for those people who died for us," Thokozani Mthembu said.

Pupil Elvis Pharu said his parents still considered June 16 to be a day of mourning and not celebration.

"My parents say on this day, in 1976, it was horrible and emotional because everything was planned properly, with no violence... And in the morning, they thought the day would end peacefully.

"But it ended with police shooting and the bloodshed of innocent children. To my parents this is a day of mourning, but for us it's a day to celebrate our opportunities."

He added that the freedom he enjoyed today made him happy, also because it afforded him the opportunity to date outside of his race.

His classmate, Simon Voyiya, agreed.

"I'm proud to be a country were there's no such thing as race. I would date a white girl, Indian girl, coloured girl, as long as they are not married," Voyiya laughed.

Asked if his parents would be happy with that, he replied: "It's a free nation. My parents can't do anything, because it's my choice. I'm sure they have heard of ubuntu."

Mlungisi Ndaba said parents needed to educate their children on the importance of June 16.

"I think parents need to talk to children and talk about today, so that they know how important this day is, and won't use drugs and alcohol.

"Education first. Beers later," Ndaba said.