Johannesburg — Gauteng youngsters have gathered in droves at the Johannesburg Stadium to commemorate the 1976 heroes and heroines who played a role in paving that way for South Africa's democracy.

On this day 32 years ago, the class of 1976 fearlessly stood up against the apartheid regime and rejected the Bantu Education laws being imposed in their schools.

They refused to use Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in their schools and came up against harsh police action.

Each year on 16 June the country remembers the events of that day and the Soweto Uprising, recalling the sacrifices the youth made in the struggle for freedom.

In recognition of the role played by the youth on that day government declared the day a public holiday.

One of the youth attending the celebrations Owen Sithuka, 14, from Orlando in Soweto said although he had not been born at the time, he praised the bravery of the 1976 young men and women.

"Today we are enjoying the fruits of democracy of because of their bravery," he told BuaNews, adding that the standard of today's education was higher.

Johannesburg Mayor, Amos Masondo is to address the youths later today and local entertainers with take to the stage.

The main Youth Day event is taking place in Cape Town, where President Thabo Mebki will address the nation.

This year, Youth Month is being celebrated primarily against the backdrop of the recent attacks on foreign nationals that live in our country.

Government calls on the youth of our country to actively oppose the recent intensified spates of perceived xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, expressed through acts of intense violence and inhumanity.