Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, has called on learner leaders from across South Africa to embrace their role as custodians of democracy, champions of safe and inclusive schools, and leaders capable of shaping the future of education and society. Addressing the 2026 National Learner Leadership Summit on 24 June 2026 in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, under the theme: “Born of Resilience, Driven by Purpose: Leading the Future of Learning,” Minister Gwarube reflected on the significance of commemorating 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising and challenged learner leaders to honour that legacy through active leadership, service and civic participation.
Minister Gwarube noted that, whilst the challenges facing today's generation differ from those confronted by the youth of 1976, they remain equally urgent. These include bullying; violence; gender-based violence; substance abuse; cyberbullying; misinformation; mental health challenges; and growing uncertainty about the future. She urged learner leaders to become agents of positive change within their schools and communities: “The Youth of 1976 fought for access to education, dignity and democratic freedoms. The responsibility of today's generation is to protect those gains, strengthen democratic participation, reject bullying and violence, champion inclusion, and use their voices to shape a better future. The future of South Africa is already here, and it is represented by the young leaders gathered at this Summit; the true measure of leadership is not status or popularity, but the ability to uplift others and strengthen communities”.
Ms Simoné Geyer, Deputy Director-General for Delivery and Support, delivered an inspirational welcome address, calling on learner leaders to honour the legacy of the 1976 generation through purposeful leadership and active participation in shaping South Africa's education system. Ms Geyer emphasised that the voices of learners remain central to educational transformation and democratic participation: “Learners must reclaim Youth Month as a learner-led space for reflection, service, innovation and positive activism, leading with courage, discipline and determination”.
A key message emerging from the Summit was that leadership begins with service. Learner leaders were encouraged to use their influence to protect vulnerable learners, promote inclusion and build school environments where every learner feels safe, respected and valued. The Summit also highlighted the importance of democratic participation and active citizenship as fundamental pillars of learner leadership. Creating safer schools requires more than policies and programmes; it requires a culture of respect, accountability, empathy and care, led by learners themselves. The Department therefore reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening school safety through initiatives such as the Safe Schools Protocol and partnerships with the South African Police Service.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Mr Mosotho Moepya, highlighted the vital role of democratic participation in shaping responsive governance, encouraging young people to become active citizens, informed decision-makers and ambassadors for democracy within their communities. He challenged Representative Council of Learners (RCL) members to embrace their democratic responsibility by registering to vote when eligible and becoming ambassadors for information integrity.
The DBE expressed its appreciation to all partners who contributed to the success of the Summit, including the IEC; UNICEF; the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT); the Agape Youth Movement; Provincial Education Departments; School Governing Bodies; educators; and learner leadership structures from across the country.