Remembering June 16, 1976 ... Sibongile Mkhabela

"The South African story is not about how wonderful the big leaders were, but how amazing the ordinary people were. We are our own liberators. We liberated ourselves," says Sibonglie Mkhabela, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital Trust, on the iStart2 Show.

"The real story was about young people making extraordinary decisions because they faced extraordinary circumstances. I knew when Hector Pieterson was killed there was no turning back. It was about our survival as people. What kept us strong were the amazing community leaders."

"iStart2 think about intergenerational conversations and taking us forward in connecting the dots" - Sibongile Mkhabela on the iStart2 Show

"I believe Africa is ready to play a bigger role in the world. The time for Africa to be a basketplace is over. I believe that holding our leaders responsible is the first step," says Sibongile. 

As a teenager, Sibongile was one of the leaders of the 1976 Soweto uprising. She was an executive member of the Soweto Student Representative Council and the South African Students Movement's General Secretary. Sibongile consequently spent four years in prison at Constitution Hill, partly serving time for ‘sedition’.

Sibongile's story about her life is a story of hope and survival against the odds. We also chat about her book Open Earth and Black Roses, her views on creating a more sustainable world and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Click play to listen to the show (repeat):




Thought of the Day:

Upcoming show:

Nirox Sculpture Park - 18 June 2016

Featuring original compositions from a collection of the finest guitar players in South Africa, including: Derek Gripper, Steve Newman, Pops Mohamed, Sibusile Xaba, Richard Bruyns and Michael Plaxton-Harrison. Their warm sounds will wander through our grassy amphitheatre beneath a sunny Winter sky.

The concert will be held on Saturday 18 June amidst the NIROX Winter 2016 Sculpture Exhibition: A Place In Time with over 40 outdoor sculptures on display by local and international artists.

There will be a fully stocked bar offering a delicious selection of drinks – including Glühwein – to refresh and hydrate as music lovers explore the landscape of Nature and Art.

See you there!