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Young hope ahead of the local government elections
Media release published 10 August 2026 | Fana Ndhlovu
Source: TCN / EP Herald
Date Added: 2026-08-10
Category: General News, TCN News, Youth News, Issues - Politics,
Date Added: 2026-08-10
Category: General News, TCN News, Youth News, Issues - Politics,
It is a mistake to think that young people aren’t interested in politics. We are. But many of us have become disillusioned with the systems that promised our parents so much, and have instead delivered corruption and disappointment.
Timothy encourages young people by saying “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
We are ready to be part of South Africa’s future and we don’t want anyone to look down on us simply because we are young.
Our politics aren’t necessarily happening in the “usual” spaces.
We may not attend a party rally, but you should hear us engage on podcasts, during YouTube shows, on social media and with our friends.
We care and we have lots to say – sometimes older generations just aren’t dialled in to the same channels as us.
Ordinary young people in South Africa are keen to play an active part in our communities and country, but we often feel like the systems and structures that are part of traditional politics don’t give us the chance to meaningfully share what really matters to us.
Sure, there have been the big political events like Fees Must Fall where young people’s concerns were noticed (and then quickly forgotten), but we have a lot of other things on our mind that we want to say too.
Unemployment is a huge issue for our generation.
As is mental health. And often, we see these things as being linked.
We want answers for how we can lift people out of poverty. Because when we do, the rest will flow from that – like reduced crime, improved mental health and better physical health.
We want political parties to address the big issues that young people are facing. This means we need concrete plans and not just empty ideas.
Political parties put together long manifesto documents full of promises and plans, but they don’t give us anything solid that we can rely on.
So where does this leave us when it comes to the November local government elections? The IEC’s latest voter registration statistics show that 15% of registered voters are between the ages of 20 and 29.
In a youthful country like ours, that may not be a lot, but if we show up, our votes can still really make a difference.
I believe that young people should vote because it’s our democratic right, and because it does influence where policies are going and how fast the things we want can be achieved.
When we show up to vote it gives us a chance to communicate our frustrations. Not voting does more harm because it keeps us on the fence and we don’t use the power that we do have.
I have a voice and I’m going to use it. I want other people to use theirs and to see themselves as an asset in their community. Voting is one way that I can add value to my community.
If you listen closely enough, there are amazing stories of how young people care about their communities and the future of South Africa.
In Evaton, south of Johannesburg, over 1 000 young people joined their social relief of stress grants together to buy a bakery. It now runs as a business that supplies their community and provides people with jobs.
Young people often have a creative approach to “old” problems and we have ideas that can make a difference.
We know that in South Africa’s current landscape, we are likely to have lots of coalition governments, and our hope for these is that people will put us first before they try and fight the other parties for more power.
Appointing people in local government based on their competence and not their political party will help. If we can include young people in the actual governing, that will also help our voices to be heard.
Politicians should build something that will still be benefitting people in 50 years’ time – when they aren’t even around anymore.
We want those in power to redeem themselves by acting differently – we’ve trusted in them by voting for them. Now they need to deliver on what they promise.
We know this may take time, but every step towards doing this will encourage young people to stay involved in the democratic process.
We dream of a South Africa where the majority of people are working, where there is no crime, where people can be educated and have meaningful opportunities to build a life, and where people don’t live in poverty.
Our voices matter.
Fana Ndhlovu
Heartlines Facilitator
Timothy encourages young people by saying “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
We are ready to be part of South Africa’s future and we don’t want anyone to look down on us simply because we are young.
Our politics aren’t necessarily happening in the “usual” spaces.
We may not attend a party rally, but you should hear us engage on podcasts, during YouTube shows, on social media and with our friends.
We care and we have lots to say – sometimes older generations just aren’t dialled in to the same channels as us.
Ordinary young people in South Africa are keen to play an active part in our communities and country, but we often feel like the systems and structures that are part of traditional politics don’t give us the chance to meaningfully share what really matters to us.
Sure, there have been the big political events like Fees Must Fall where young people’s concerns were noticed (and then quickly forgotten), but we have a lot of other things on our mind that we want to say too.
Unemployment is a huge issue for our generation.
As is mental health. And often, we see these things as being linked.
We want answers for how we can lift people out of poverty. Because when we do, the rest will flow from that – like reduced crime, improved mental health and better physical health.
We want political parties to address the big issues that young people are facing. This means we need concrete plans and not just empty ideas.
Political parties put together long manifesto documents full of promises and plans, but they don’t give us anything solid that we can rely on.
So where does this leave us when it comes to the November local government elections? The IEC’s latest voter registration statistics show that 15% of registered voters are between the ages of 20 and 29.
In a youthful country like ours, that may not be a lot, but if we show up, our votes can still really make a difference.
I believe that young people should vote because it’s our democratic right, and because it does influence where policies are going and how fast the things we want can be achieved.
When we show up to vote it gives us a chance to communicate our frustrations. Not voting does more harm because it keeps us on the fence and we don’t use the power that we do have.
I have a voice and I’m going to use it. I want other people to use theirs and to see themselves as an asset in their community. Voting is one way that I can add value to my community.
If you listen closely enough, there are amazing stories of how young people care about their communities and the future of South Africa.
In Evaton, south of Johannesburg, over 1 000 young people joined their social relief of stress grants together to buy a bakery. It now runs as a business that supplies their community and provides people with jobs.
Young people often have a creative approach to “old” problems and we have ideas that can make a difference.
We know that in South Africa’s current landscape, we are likely to have lots of coalition governments, and our hope for these is that people will put us first before they try and fight the other parties for more power.
Appointing people in local government based on their competence and not their political party will help. If we can include young people in the actual governing, that will also help our voices to be heard.
Politicians should build something that will still be benefitting people in 50 years’ time – when they aren’t even around anymore.
We want those in power to redeem themselves by acting differently – we’ve trusted in them by voting for them. Now they need to deliver on what they promise.
We know this may take time, but every step towards doing this will encourage young people to stay involved in the democratic process.
We dream of a South Africa where the majority of people are working, where there is no crime, where people can be educated and have meaningful opportunities to build a life, and where people don’t live in poverty.
Our voices matter.
Fana Ndhlovu
Heartlines Facilitator
Source: TCN / EP Herald
Date Added: 2026-08-10
Category: General News, TCN News, Youth News, Issues - Politics,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2026-08-10
Category: General News, TCN News, Youth News, Issues - Politics,
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