The philosophy of backpacking holds out the hope of a genuine Skhaftin beyond the stormy sea of struggle.

Robert Sobukwe

Backpacking is an ancient practice that has inspired revolutions as well as the rise and fall of empires. It is still practiced by one artist in particular, who spends his day thinking about life and how people can live better … poet and medical doctor, Linda Masilela.

Masilela is an amateur tea connoisseur, with a taste for the humble but elite cheese and polony sandwich, accompanied by the Juice. He unpacks his backpack in the skhaftin this youth day to give us his thoughts on the meaning and legacy of June 16.

TBS: Do you remember the first time you commemorated youth day? What did it mean to you back then and what does it mean to you now?

The first time was in primary school. The memory is a bit vague. All I remember is how we had to watch Sarafina and afterwards we were asked all kinds of questions. At the time it didn’t mean much except for being a holiday. Now it means a day of commemoration and reflection. It means thinking, deeply, about what we have achieved as a nation and how we can take this country forward.

LM: Do you think the legacy of the students who protested in ’76 is well preserved in the psyche of black South Africans?

Even though we try and preserve the legacy, we often fall short. What happens is a litany of events that barely address the significance of this day. In addition to this, the erasure and half-baked facts are regressive and often do not present the fullness and importance of this day. But in future, we have to introspect and reflect on how we can better commemorate this day.

Are young South Africans better off today than they were 44 years ago?

Well it depends on what ‘better ‘ means for you and I. So, most things are relative. But in my personal opinion, I think we have made progress but we still have a long way to go. Yes, we have political freedom but haven’t attained economic freedom. At the heart of economic freedom is the issue of land. 44 years later we still don’t own the land. And what happens, especially in days like this, is a lot of nostalgia and we forget the issues of importance.

As somebody who is vocal about class and racial disparities, what are some of the parallels you can draw between the struggles of students then, and now?

The parallels are the following. Firstly, we all share a common struggle; being black in an anti-black society. Our bodies are political grounds were racialism runs amok. Secondly, even if we don’t have the right vocabulary for it, we deeply believe in the decolonisation of education.

Changing the language of teaching is the first step. But we need to go further than that. Education needs to be contextually relevant. The youth of ‘76 knew that. The youth of 2020 also know that … even though we might not use elaborate words. The parallels are many. But the contrasts also exist. Especially because the youth of today is apathetic and politics seems to be a far-fetched idea.

The government has failed students, poor students in particular. What do you think it will take to level the playing field for students who can’t afford to further their academic careers and students who have little to no access to education?

Firstly, dismantle the whole system or at least how we govern institutions of learning, especially with regards to finances. The movement #FeesMustFall has shown us that free education is not only a possibility but a noble phenomenon we should pursue. Secondly institutions of learning do not exist in the sky. They are a microcosm of the world they find themselves in.

As long as capitalism is the route we take, free education in our lifetime will be a myth. So, we need to re-orient the whole economy to make free education a possibility. I mean this has utopian nuances but many countries (like Cuba) have proven that this is possible.

Do you think the ANC administration has the capability to take any action to turn the tide on the inequalities that exist in education and broader society?

The founding principles of the ANC were progressive. However, today, we find ourselves in the midst of giant movement that is ran by capitalists. Most have economic interest and the current status quo benefits them. So, it’s hard seeing the ANC dismantling the whole system.

Some people argue that: “26 years is a short time for change to have taken place.” What is your take on this line of thinking?

It is a short especially when your aim is to redress the injustices of the past. But with that note, we also believe that any system has to be assessed on how much progress it has made. And so far, we have been disappointed. I’m not sure if we need another 26 years.

Given that social distancing is part of daily life now, what will you be doing this June 16?

[Laughs] I’ll just stay in bed and play rap music. Do some reading.

You can read the previous Legacy of June 16 interview with Tshepiso Modupe here.