By Shakeel Bhaktawer – South African Communist Party – Regional Secretary
May 19th, 1919, is the date Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in the northern Turkish city of Samsun to start the armed struggle against the imperialist occupation of Türkiye and its collaborators. The date is considered as the beginning of the war of liberation. It is today celebrated as an official holiday as the “Day of Commemorating Atatürk, the youth and sports”.
The Youth Union of Türkiye (TGB) and the World Anti-imperialist Youth Union (WAYU) have organized on May 19, 2026, an international event with participation from dozens of countries of anti-imperialist struggle. During the convention, several speeches were held.
One of the speeches was from Shakeel Bhaktawer, regional secretary of the South African Communist Party Regional Secretary. Below, we present the speech to our readers.
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As Salaam Walaikum, Good Morning.
Greetings from my country South Africa and from my fellow representatives globally from the Global Youth Movement for Palestine and the Global campaign to return to Palestine.
A special word of appreciation to the organizing committee for affording me this opportunity to represent the various organizations at this major and important gathering.
My Name is Shakeel Bhaktawer and I’m privileged to be part of this much important and necessary gathering.
My country has entered the global arena and today we are a mirror reflecting perseverance, determination, courage and hope to the many countries currently undergoing the same oppression and injustices we once experienced. We are one of the first countries to form the BRICS organization. An organization of emerging economies, including China and Russia and to date more countries joining the fold. As it stands now this membership coalition accounts for over 49 percent of the world’s population. The slow but necessary breakaway from the dominance of the US attitude of total control is giving prominence and increasing growth to the BRICS organization. Emphasis has to be placed that BRICS has established its own New Development Bank to fund infrastructure and sustainable projects across emerging markets. This is a topic for another day. The reason I chose to highlight this is because of the frustration and “had enough” attitude by countries against the dominance and bully tactic by the US government and its partners.
Today I want to share the path towards our freedom and the role the youth played in assisting towards the end of apartheid. South African youth played a pivotal part in the fight against apartheid struggle. They fought against the imperialist white minority rule through mass mobilization, radicalized student movements and armed resistance. Their determination and sacrifice that fundamentally destabilized the apartheid regime and assisted in accelerating the transition to what we now have and celebrate as a democratic state.
The youth movements emanated from the banning by the apartheid government of liberation movements in the 1960s. A new generation of university students embraced black consciousness, led by leaders such as the late Steve Biko through the SA student’s organization (Saso). These youth advocated for physiological liberation, self-reliance and black pride. They ensured that the identity of the black South African would remain and not be reliant on the white minority rule.
The youth movement’s most defining moment occurred on June 16, 1976. Thousands of students in Soweto marched to protest the apartheid government’s Bantu Education Policy, which forced them to learn and speak Afrikaans, the language of their oppressor. This boycott was met with brutal police gun fire, but the youth held their ground and this resulted in a nationwide unrest. The famous photo of the death of one of the students, Hector Peterson became an enduring symbol of resistance, thus forcing the international community to take strict anti-apartheid stances against the white apartheid government. The continuous call of action by the youth led to making the townships ungovernable in the 1980s. As imperialism and state brutality increased, the armed struggle of the youth developed. Young comrades joined the armed wings like Mk and the Apla (Azanian People’s Liberation Army), Guerilla tactics and direct action was used to render townships politically and administratively ungovernable for the apartheid regime. This action brought the country’s industrial heartland to a standstill.
Our great leaders including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisululu, Oliver Tambo formed the Anc Youth League which to date is still an integral part of the main organization. That brought change to the liberation struggle by shifting away from elite passive appeals and embracing a mass based approach, including boycotts, strikes and civil disobedience. This action ignited the pathway to achieving freedom. This action drew attention in the global arena, and it gave a louder voice in the call for an end to apartheid.
Today gatherings such as this gives opportunity for people to relate their experiences but what do we do with this. How do we take information and adjust it to assist the current situation without being dictated to. Where is the passion to take the wrong head on? This is where you come in as young leaders. Your vision for a better world can only be a reality if you are strong, determined and prepared for the worst onslaught from the enemies outside as well as within. It is the time for the youth to remind the old that you are being monitored.
As we sit here, we know of the genocide in Palestine and the atrocities happening in Lebanon. What are we doing to stop this evilness? We hear speech after speech and all is so promising from the podium but the action is nonexistent. We witness the killings and the stories coming out of Gaza clearly prove it’s a violation of human rights. I ask you today who decides what is right and what is wrong. We have the United Nations and the Security Councils and other worldly bodies who have the main purpose of ensuring peace and stability throughout the world. Have they done that? Have they enforced the rule of law against these evil transgressors? No. Instead they have played a big part in allowing the genocide to continue and to escalate to the level of where it is today. How do you plan to change this? I ask you today what action you have done to bring these monsters down.
South Africa stood up and took Israel to the ICJ and it was ruled that Israel is committing a genocide and the ruling was clear on what the court wanted. What has transpired since that ruling? Nothing. In fact, the situation in Gaza just got worse. Is this the international law we called on to respect? Is this not a clear indication of the selective and biased approach by these organizations? To me it’s clear that these organizations have been captured by the US and Israeli governments. I can say to you today that had this ruling been done against any other leaders or countries, there would have been action immediately.
Comrades please, please do not be fooled by the organizations and their approach. Be alert and be aware of the manipulations that will try to discourage you. The third voice is the most dangerous voice. It comes to make you doubt yourself or to question your role. If your actions and commitment is genuine you will be able to stand for humanity and fight against these cruel and greedy monsters. These monsters who are killing innocent people for the sake of stealing their land. Palestine is not the buildings; Palestine is the people and the soil. The uprising in the call for the end to the genocide is led by you the younger generation. The Gretas and Thiagos of the world are what this world needs right now. Palestine does not need speeches; Palestine needed and needs action now.
We can speak about so much more concerning the atrocities committed in Gaza and Lebanon and the war against Iran. But that is all we do? We just talk about things and about crisis after crisis. Young lions awaken the spirit within you to fight for justice and to call for freedom. Hold your leaders accountable and keep on reminding them of who they represent. Build and motivate others who have the same passion and work towards reaching the goal. But never sell your soul to the devil. The bully tactics of Israel and the US is because of many counties becoming too economically dependent on them.
Help rebuild and establish within your country. Grow your identity and allow it to be followed not dictated to. Continue to bring in more with the same passion and nurture the new minds. Don’t be fooled by the material gifts and instead work on your own gift and talent. We need to bring change to stop the greed and violations so easily done by the self-proclaimed “superpowers”. We need to continue and never cease when they say cease.
We have overcome apartheid, but we are still going through many challenges as a nation. How we overcome this is what is important. The role of the youth is once again vital. It is the youth who are reminding the leaders of where we have come from and there is no way we are heading back in that direction. It is you who has to be consistent and firm in your belief. It is you who is to assist in change. Change for the betterment of all. Restore the respect that the world has lost. Religious respect and not mockery. Palestinian people are a clear example of unity and love and the world needs that again.
My closing remarks. What I witness gives hope that the atrocities and greed won’t continue. I applaud all of you for your sacrifice and devotion. We will win the fight against injustice, and we will restore the dignity to many. Guess what? You are the next leaders who can make the change.
Blessings and strength to all and continue to ignite the passion of freedom and justice for all.
We are not for sale, and we are not going to lose our identity. We are proud of who we are, and we will defend whatever it takes to keep that.
Aluta Continua.
The struggle continues. We continue to grow.