Crucial participation of the young people in elections.

Young people feel there is a lack of accountability by political parties and political leaders.

Lesego Mooi hopes to register for the next year`s elections so that his voice can be heard.

South Africa is headed to the polls next year to elect members of the seventh parliament, as well as the nine provincial legislatures. These elections will be significant since 2024 will mark 30 years since the end of apartheid and the beginning of democracy, and for the first time, a coalition may form the national government.

According to Statistics SA, young people (aged 18 to 34) constitute almost a third of the population of South Africa. The majority of South African youngsters are uninvolved in political activities. This is because they mostly believe that their views are not heard and their votes are meaningless. Young people lack trust in the political system because many see politicians as corrupt and unresponsive to people’s demands.

Amanda Ndlovu does not believe in voting, because she says that the government does nothing for the youth, even though they vote for them.

Amanda Ndlovu a student at Wits, said, “I am 19, and I don’t see myself voting anytime soon because it’s pointless for me; nothing will change – even if I vote, there will still be corruption in our government”.

Statistics SA also stated that unemployment among the youth is one of the factors that contribute to the youth not participating in voting. This highlights the importance of addressing youth unemployment as a means of increasing their engagement in political processes and decision-making. It also underscores the need for policies and programmes that provide opportunities for young people to enter the workforce and build a better future.

” It is important to educate young people on the importance of their vote and how it can impact their future. Additionally, providing accessible resources and making voting more convenient can also increase youth participation,” says Lesego Mooi, who is a student at Wits.

Mooi believes young people should vote to make sure that their voices are being heard. She also argues that the youth have unique perspectives and experiences that should be represented in government decisions and that voting is a crucial way to make this happen. Additionally, he encourages young people to educate themselves on the issues and candidates before casting their ballots.

Olwethu Ngcobo says she participates in voting because she lost hope in the government system due to corruption.

Olwethu Ngcobo, who is also a Wits student, says that she lost trust in the government system because it has been failing the youth; there is so much corruption and people in the high places are abusing their power.

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