03/09/2026
WHAT GENERATION ARE WE RAISING?
Something has been weighing heavily on my mind.
I have been watching the Spring Day videos circulating on social media and reading comments from concerned citizens. And honestly, some of these videos are not funny. They are a reflection of a much bigger problem we need to have the courage to confront.
Let me be clear: young people should celebrate Spring Day. Young people should have fun. Young people deserve to create memories.
But the question is:
WHAT DO WE CALL FUN?
When did disrespect become entertainment?
When did humiliating an elderly person become something we can record, post, share and laugh at?
Pouring water over our elders is a BIG NO.
That is someone's mother.
Someone's father.
Someone's grandmother.
Someone's grandfather.
Someone's caregiver.
Someone's breadwinner.
That person deserves dignity and respect.
We cannot laugh behind a phone screen while an elderly person is being humiliated and then suddenly become outraged when that person reacts.
And this is where we need to be honest with ourselves.
If that elderly person reacts and the child is harmed, arrested or disciplined, some parents will immediately rush to the police station to defend their child.
But before we defend our children, have we asked them what they did?
Have we taught them that actions have consequences?
Have we taught them that being young does not give you permission to disrespect others?
PARENTS, WHAT GENERATION ARE WE RAISING?
As a youth movement, our responsibility is to empower young people for life, leadership and service.
We speak about Ubuntu.
We speak about respect.
We speak about responsibility.
We speak about leadership.
We speak about decision-making.
We speak about transformative masculinity.
We go into schools and sometimes have only 15 minutes to try to plant these values in young people's minds.
But we cannot do it alone.
Parents, we need you.
Educators are raising concerns about learners' behaviour. Communities are raising concerns. Society is raising concerns.
And yet, sometimes when a child is corrected, the parent becomes their first defence — regardless of whether the child was wrong.
IS THAT LOVE?
Love is not allowing your child to believe they can do whatever they want without consequences.
Love is sometimes saying:
“My child, you are wrong.”
Love is correcting them when nobody is watching.
Love is teaching them to apologise.
Love is teaching them to respect an elder.
Love is teaching them that other people's dignity matters.
Love is preparing them for the real world.
Discipline is not hatred. Accountability is not abuse. Tough love is still love.
We also need to teach young people about boundaries and responsibility.
South Africa already faces serious water challenges. So even when we celebrate, we should ask ourselves whether wasting water should be part of our definition of fun.
There are many ways to celebrate without destroying property, humiliating people, wasting precious resources or crossing boundaries.
LET THEM HAVE FUN — BUT TEACH THEM HOW TO HAVE FUN.
Let them celebrate.
Let them laugh.
Let them dance.
Let them create memories.
But let those memories be built on respect, dignity and Ubuntu.
Because the young person who is disrespecting an elder today will one day become an adult in the society we are all building.
And that brings me back to the question:
WHAT GENERATION ARE WE RAISING?
Are we raising children who know their rights but don't understand responsibility?
Are we raising children who expect protection but don't understand accountability?
Are we raising children who know how to speak, but don't know how to respect?
Or are we raising a generation of leaders who understand that freedom comes with responsibility and that Ubuntu means recognising the humanity and dignity of others?**
This is not about attacking young people.
It is about raising them.
This is not about blaming parents.
It is about reminding ourselves that parenting, teaching and community development require all of us.
The village must raise the child.
And perhaps today, the village needs to ask itself:
WHAT KIND OF VILLAGE ARE WE BECOMING?
Ubuntu begins at home.
Respect begins at home.
Discipline begins at home.
Accountability begins at home.
Let us raise a generation that does not only know how to celebrate life —but knows how to respect life.
@followers
