South Africa's 'born free' generation living the life Mandela dreamed of
Despite criticism from elders, post-apartheid generation say the greatest tribute they can pay their nation's late leader is to look to the future
Sitting in her comfortable suburban living room 45 minutes east of Johannesburg, Nokuthula Magubane, 18, was doing something close to unthinkable to older generations of black South Africans - she was affectionately praising Afrikaans.
"It's such a laid-back and beautiful language," she said.
Mandatory instruction in Afrikaans during apartheid was one of the sparks that set off the Soweto student uprisings of 1976.
Hundreds of young people, many younger than Magubane, were killed. Countless others chose to abandon education rather than receive instruction in what they considered the language of the oppressor.
It was a seminal moment in the struggle against apartheid, and the day of the uprising, June 16, became national Youth Day in the new South Africa.
But to Magubane, "at the end of the day, Afrikaans is just a language".