Loerie Park lights up for youth festivities

Gallery Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality organised a Youth Day event to commemorate the Soweto Youth Uprising of 16 June 1976.

The celebrations took place at Loerie Park on Sunday 16 June.

The event lineup of entertainers ranged from local to national artists like singer and Idols judge Unathi Msengana, Idols winner Paxton, Mobi Dixon and Early B who took to the stage and had attendees on their feet and singing along.

During his speech Knysna mayor Mark Willemse said, "Today we commemorate the sacrifice made by countless brave men and women for their fight for liberation and a better life for South Africans. We stand together to continue the struggle for economic inclusion, jobs and quality education that so many fought and lost their lives for in 1976."

He said at 52.8%, South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world and that we must not only pay lip service to the cause with summits and workshops which in the end amount to nothing.

"I want to pave a way to establishing a skills development centre in Knysna together with stakeholders and private enterprises, to ensure that the youth of our town are able to establish themselves as a relevant contribution to our society."

Loerie Park was alive and the Youth Council organised food stalls and created an ambience that resembled that of the Waterfront with flags and a large variety of options.

There was police presence and no incidents were reported.

Some of the attendees at Loerie Park on Youth Day.