Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2016-07-21

“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline.” Kofi Anan

With less than 2 weeks left for 2016 municipal elections, concerns have been raised about the large number of youth who have not registered for the polls.

While many South Africans will have the opportunity to reshape the socio-economic and political future of the country, its believed that approximately 9.1 million citizens whom are not registered on the voters roll count for more than 80% of youth.

‘Youth Activator’ Siphelele Chirwa is one of the many young South Africans who are active in creating public awareness on the importance of registering for the coming Municipal Elections.

Chirwa says that one of the major reasons youth do not vote is that they do not know how local government works.

“They only interact with local government to express their concerns, and I suggest that youth should not be reminded that voting is their democratic right, instead youth should be shown how powerful their votes are towards strengthening our democracy.”

But political analyst Ralph Mathekga says that the youth’s vote remains exceptionally illusive.

“Younger people do not participate very much in the election process; their behaviour, their attitude and the patterns show that they are not inspired to vote.”

Mathekga says that unemployment among youth is a trend plaguing South Africa.

“Some analysts are saying that 70% of people unemployed in the country are youth, so the youth do not see voting something that will lead to them achieving the result that they would want.”

Mathekga believes that political parties do not have a strategy to activate the youth.

“You can throw a bash – call Black Coffee and fill up the stadium, distribute food like Nando’s and KFC Streetwise,however this does not amount to a strategy to activate the youth, you need to talk to them before elections, talk to them in the middle of elections and reach out to them in the correct manner.”

Mathekga argues that young people are not being integrated in strategic leadership roles as the average leader’s age in South Africa is sixty-one.

He says that young people who have registered and are eligible voters are unlikely to follow their ancestral route and vote for the African National Congress.

“I think that they are much more impressed by younger leaders like Julius Malema and Mmusi Maimane, because they are leaders who are more educated, speak their language, and they are leaders capable of educating the younger generation.”

Local government elections will be held across the country on the 3rd of August which has also been declared a public holiday by President Jacob Zuma.

(Edited By Faizel Patel)