Local young people urged to make their vote count

As the country gears up for the 2024 elections, young people have been urged to go out in numbers and use their vote as their voices to be heard and change the current political landscape of the country.

Active Youth Movement based in Kagiso recently organised a programme to get the youth of Kagiso Ext 12 to open their eyes, see the bigger picture and exercise their democratic rights.

“The purpose was to encourage and educate the youth and make them understand the importance of how to register and vote in order to exercise their democratic rights.

“Be able to choose their government that will represent and fight for them,” said Executive Director of Active Movement, Tebogo Suping.

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In recent years, the voter turnout of young people has tremendously dipped, with less than half of the South African voting age population exercising their rights in 2019 and not all eligible voters are registered.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), research on youth turnout revealed that only an estimated 56% of eligible voters between 18- 29 years old registered to vote.

Suping said the lack of youth participation raises concerns and required that young people be empowered through political and civic education.

“The youth of today face many challenges. It’s therefore very important for us to ensure that they have an understanding of their rights and be responsible citizens of this country.

“Voting is such a powerful way as we saw the youth of ‘76 lost their lives fighting for their rights and that mentality should continue but by using your votes to change the future,” she emphasised.

The 2024 elections will mark the first general election since 1994 where independent candidates will be included on the ballot paper.

The IEC recently announced that voter registration weekend is scheduled for November 18 and 19.