Over 200 students, staff, community members, government officials, and partners joined Stellenbosch University's 5th Annual #Action4Inclusion Social Justice Walk on Youth Day. This was the biggest turnout since the event began in 2021.

The 16-kilometre walk marked the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising and the 30th anniversary of South Africa's Constitution. It raised funds for #Action4Inclusion (A4I), which helps students at risk of dropping out due to debt and financial challenges.

At the Pniel Museum, the last stop on the route, Prof Thuli Madonsela, Director of Stellenbosch University's Centre for Social Justice and leader of the campaign, told participants that the fight for equal access to education is not over.

"Whereas children and young people of 1976, among them Palesa Musa, marched against apartheid laws and policies that prevented them from getting an education that freed their full human potential and enabled them to enjoy all economic and social opportunities in equality with others, today, many children are prevented by money from enjoying equal education. That is unfair. It is a social injustice," she said.

Madonsela spoke about the meaning of Youth Day, pointing out that many who marched on 16 June 1976 were still children. They were inspired by hope anchored in the belief that a better South Africa, anchored in living together as equals and relating in ways that affirm the humanity of all, was possible. Reality at the time was against them. The odds seemed against the possibility of equal education. 

Yet today the Constitution enshrines equality in all aspects of life, including education. At a practical level, however, some are prevented by financial constraints and inadequate spaces to access and complete university education, which is why the #Action4Inclusion quest to end student debt as a barrier to equal education was initiated.   

"We are here partly because of a debt of gratitude to those who dared to believe that a better South Africa was possible, and that education was an anchor of that better world," she said.

The record number of participants shows that more people support the initiative and its goal of ensuring financial hardship does not stop deserving students from finishing their studies. The key organisers of the walk included the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University and Visit Stellenbosch, with support from the Stellenbosch Municipality, joined by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD), as a new partner. 

At the start of the walk, at the Co-Create Hub, Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch, welcomed everyone and remarked that the initiative is more than just an event.

"It has become a movement for access, a movement for inclusion, and a movement for social justice," she said.

When the Walk reached the Ou Hoofgebou Monument of the Constitution’s preamble, which was installed by the Law Faculty a few years ago, participants were addressed on the link between June 16, social justice and the Constitution. Representative of the DOJ&CD, Topsy Musi led the recitation of the Constitution's preamble by all participants and the singing of the national anthem. She also explained the purpose of the preamble and the mini exhibition themed “From Soweto to Social Justice”.

Musi, who is the Director of Public Education and Liaison Services at the DOJ&CD, told participants that the freedoms won by the youth of 1976 mean today's generation must keep working for justice, dignity, and equality for everyone.

"We are building on what the youth of 1976 secured for us – the rights to justice, dignity and equality," she said.

The involvement of the DOJCD helped highlight the event's focus on constitutional values, human rights, and social justice as South Africa marks 30 years of constitutional democracy.

As usual, on reaching the old Lückhoff School, which was forcefully taken away from the coloured community as part of apartheid forced removals in the 70s, participants were given symbolic stones and spekboom cuttings. They were advised that the stones stood for the heavy events of 16 June 1976 and whatever burdens they carried in their own lives, while the spekboom represented hope, growth, and a promise to build a better future.

The key speaker of the Social Justice walk, Executive Mayor Jeremy Fasser addressed the participants at the Lückhoff School. He summarised the history of forced removals and opined that such injustices inform ongoing structural inequalities in education and other areas of life. 

"The struggles students face today may be different, but they are connected to the same broader question: who gets access to opportunity and who is left behind?" he said.

Fasser pointed out that even though apartheid barriers are gone, many students still face exclusion because of high costs, lack of accommodation, and financial difficulties.

The walk continued to the Ida's Valley Community Market. There, community leaders welcomed participants and spoke about how students can help shape Stellenbosch's future by getting involved in their communities.

Community leader Eon Hendrickse encouraged students to become active participants in the communities where they study.

"It was students who changed the narrative 50 years ago. You have the power in your hands today to change the narrative," he said.

Hendrickse said the market shows what is possible when communities join forces to support local economic growth, food security, and social unity.

The walk went through the Dwarsrivier Valley communities and ended at the Pniel Museum. There, community leaders welcomed everyone, and participants reflected on the day's themes of justice, inclusion, and hope.

At the end of the event, Reverend Klate from the Pniel community reminded everyone that justice, compassion, and hope are key to building stronger communities and keeping opportunities open for future generations.

All day, speakers repeated a common message: even though much has changed since 1976, many young South Africans still face barriers to education that prevent them from reaching their full potential. They called for more donations to the #Action4Inclusion fund. This included a passionate appeal for #Action4Inclusion support by SRC President, Pulane Mtshali. She indicated that funds needed transcended student debt and included daily financial struggles regarding food security/hunger, data, accommodation and transport.

Madonsela thanked all the individuals and partners that contributed to the success of the event, particularly singling out the young person in the CSJ, Themba Seyisi, who had led the process. She also recognised the new CEO of Visit Stellenbosch for the enduring partnership and the DOJCD for levelling up the event with the youthful energy and linking the 50th anniversary of June 60 with the 30th anniversary of the Constitution. 

She also thanked the University leadership, including Vice Chancellor Deresh Ramjugernath, for their enduring support of the Social Justice Walk and the #Action4Inclusion quest. Gratitude was also extended to all partners who bought bulk tickets and to the Thuma Foundation and Visit Stellenbosch, who helped procure the participants’ T-shirts, which have the Constitution’s preamble on the back.

As participants finished the symbolic 16-kilometre walk and got their medals, one message stood out: the fight for equal access to education did not end in 1976. It is still ongoing, and everyone shares the responsibility.