By Staff Writer
04:10:2021

A recent statement from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) indicates that around 75% of people aged between 18 and 21 have “disappeared” from the voting role, that voting participation amongst the 18-21 will only be 25% of the total population were all voters in this group to vote, which is unlikely.

Further, voter apathy has increased between the 18 to 30 group, with disillusionment with the system being the main reason. Significantly, this apathy has risen steadily every election, with the Institute for Security Studies survey in 2016 arguing that corruption, disillusionment, and lack of representation were some primary reasons accounting for this. And that potential voters felt that voting would do little to change the situation and thus preferred to refrain.

A panel discussion on Radio Islam International, with Insaaf Isaacs (ANC), Luyolo Mphithi (DA) and Ndodayezimali Khumalo (independent youth leader) argued much the same. Issues encountered were a lack of youth representation in government (all spheres), undelivered promises, and a lack of political education.

Further, it was noted that many would-be candidates are too busy struggling to pay off student debt and/or to feed themselves and are thus not interested in voting; that this is disillusionment rather than pure apathy.

This is significant in a context where youth and young professional unemployment is amongst the highest in the world, with the World Bank reporting in 2019 that over half of South African youth are unemployed, a fact made worse by the Coronavirus crisis, which now sees around 10 million Youngsters being unemployed.

The panellists argued that issues such as lack of service delivery (electricity, water, lighting and even data) are severely hampering the youth, but noting that more needs to be done to indicate to young voters that local government elections mainly concern such issues.

Khumalo pointed to the need for political education and the regaining of trust between voters and elected representatives, the DA’s Luyolo Mphithi pointing to the need for enablement processes such as electricity and water being improved to enhance the ability of young voters, and Isaacs pointing to the need for more youth representation at all levels.

The ANC’s Insaaf Isaacs noted that the ANC in the upcoming election was focused on appointing candidates with a stronger reputation and integrity. In contrast, Mphithi stated that the DA was flawed and not perfect but that its record in the Midvaal and Cape Town indicates that it is a party that can deliver.

In a context wherein the country is moving away from the record as an influencer of voting behaviour, the presence of the Economic Freedom Fighters, which the survey points to, has a great appeal amongst younger voters is likely to decrease the vote share that these parties can receive from the youth.

[LISTEN] to the podcast here