By Umamah Bakharia 

Former Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi is to launch his latest book in Lenasia in June’s Youth Month.

The book called “Young Lions of Lenz” explores the Lenasia Youth League that was active in the 1980s anti-apartheid struggle.

In 1981, the young activist tried to consolidate the organisation and formed the ‘Lenasia Youth League’ on 5 June 1982. The Lenasia Youth League was active for 9 years before it merged as the ‘ANC Youth League- Lenasia Branch’ in the ’90s.

In an interview with Radio Islam, Ismail Vadi says the book is to celebrate the generation’s achievements as well as look at the league’s contributions to society.

“It’s also to give a pointer to the youth of this generation because I think they are searching for answers,” says Vadi.

One of the topics highlighted in his book is the 1980 boycott by the Indian community in Lenasia that saw the likes of 4 high school students – Nirvana High, Lenasia High School, Topaz High and Trinity High – go on the boycott.

“The school kids really broke that cycle of fear, came out in the open [and] defied the police,” says Vadi.

Vadi adds: “Every generation will determine its own struggle, its own agenda in life and I think if we can give them some inspiration [in] the book, I will be very happy about that.”

The book will be launched by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation on the 5^th of June at the Lenasia Cricket Stadium.

The launch will be attended by former Lenasia Youth League members, the Lenasia Student Congress as well civil society members from the struggle.