Is this the reawakening of the student movement and ANC that we have been waiting for?

Events of the past two weeks related to the #FeesMustFall tertiary students uprisings have left most South Africans feeling proud that indeed this generation is aware of its huge responsibility of taking the National Democratic Revolution forward and thus paving a way for future African generations to be on equal footing with their white counterparts.

Many times, we have been told how apolitical is today's youth. We have even coined words for them such as "born frees", the "social media generation", etc. We should accept that we were all wrong, just like the apartheid regime was wrong in believing that banishing all political parties, incarceration of freedom fighters and driving people to exile will lead to the end of the struggle. 

As we celebrate the #FeesMustFall movement achievements, we should realise that these are meant to be a foundation towards addressing the overall education system in South Africa. This should surely give impetus to the powers that be to speed up the implementation of free education and thus achieve one of the pillars of the freedom charter. While celebrating, we must also take time and do proper analysis of what this mean to our "maturing democracy".

To those hoping for the renewal of the ANC, they will indeed see 2015 tertiary institutions students uprisings as a great opportunity for the ANC renewal and revival towards reclaiming its space to continue leading the National Democratic Revolution. Those on the other side of the coin will see these uprisings as a demise of the ANC as well as a precursor towards the creation of the new movement to take the struggle forward.

In my view, just like the 1976 students uprisings helped to revive the South African liberation movements and also brought the plight of South Africans especially students to the fore of the international community, the 2015 tertiary students uprising will help the ANC to find its way again and refocus its energies to the things that really matter in the lives of our people. 

New leaders were "born" during the past two weeks, and as a movement capable of naturing young leaders to become great leaders, we dare fail these leaders. The #FeesMustFall movement has raised the political awareness of students and introduced a renewed sense of independence and initiative among the "born frees" and for that we say, thank you.

Like David Maimela said in the book, The Future We Chose: Emerging Perspectives on the Centenary of the ANC,  

"If the story of the student movement must be told, clearly and properly, then students must tell their own. This is a rich history which must partially define who we are, where we come from and where we ought to go"