Last Friday, the Soshanguve Secure Care Centre, an entity of the Gauteng Department of Social Development, hosted the Youth Day event, in Tshwane.
The department is mandated by the Children's Act 38 of 2005 as amended, to ensure the establishment and management of Child and Youth Care Centres. The centres are for children in conflict with the law, awaiting trial or sentencing in terms of the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008.
The June 16 1976 uprising began in Soweto and spread countrywide profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa. Events that triggered the uprising can be traced back to policies of the Apartheid government that introduced Bantu Education Act in 1953.
Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, who gave a keynote address, urged young people at the centre to be grateful of the chances given to them by the department.
She said, "It is not late to turn your lives around. Work hard in your lives so that your children can be proud of by doing positive things with your lives.
Bogopane-Zulu said, "By being here means you have done something wrong previously. However, you should do right with the values and principle instilled by the department. Our Social Workers work tirelessly to ensure you have a bright future and I commend them for giving you love".
About 50 young people between the age of 18 and 2 received certificates from the Department for contributing positively to their communities.