The Important Role of Youths in South African Politics

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“Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies”. – Kofi Annan (2015)

History of Youth Political Consciousness

The issue of youth involvement in politics in South Africa can be traced historically. However, from a global perspective, the youth are always the arrowhead anywhere change is likely to take place, whether through the ballot, bullet, or radical revolution. Young people are very energetic and are viable tools to champion any perceived change in any society. Undoubtedly, the youth can be very creative and a dynamic source of innovation. They have participated, contributed to, and organised important changes in several political societies, power-sharing dynamics, and economic activities throughout history. Historically, the Tiananmen Square incident initially started with youths, especially those from the university. Similarly, the anti-oligarchy movement that founded the confederation of Chilean students, the Cordoba student reform movement of 1918, and to the blood-tainted student movement of the 1960s in Tlatelolco were all championed by youths. In the United States of America, Martin Luther King Jr’s involvement in the civil rights movement started in his early twenties. This happened when he was still a student at Morehouse College in 1951, where he became deeply involved in the student movement and was central in organising student protests.

In Africa, we have witnessed incidences of youth’s massive involvement in politics. Prominent among them, particularly in recent memory, is the 2011 Arab Spring, which swept across the Arab countries and some parts of the Middle East. There was a series of protests popularly referred to as the “City Square Movement” or the Newest Social Movement.”. The birthplace of this protest is traced to Tunisia, where citizens protested against the authoritarian government of former President Ben Ali. Soon, these protests were joined by other Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. While the Arab Spring recorded some successes, it failed to bring any serious spark in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, some inspiration trickled down. The Rhodes Must Fall, Fees Must Fall in South Africa, the END SARS protest in Nigeria in 2020 and most recently, the Finance Bill proest in Kenya championed by the so called GenerationZ in 2024.

In South Africa, the youth played a prominent role in the struggles against the racial government called apartheid. Several acts of rebellion from young South Africans were witnessed as far back as the colonial rule. Massive protests among school students became widespread as the youth sought to bring political change to the white minority government and its laws on education. Prominent among these protests is the 16 June 1976, known as the Soweto uprising. This movement, championed by the bold and courageous South African youths, was unique in its confrontational and daring nature and was perceived as very radical by the apartheid government of that time. This marked the beginning of youth involvement in shaping the future of South African politics.

South African Youths in Apartheid Politics

The formation of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) marked a turning point in the involvement of South African youth in apartheid politics. With the establishment of the ANCYL, it created a pathway for easy and well-coordinated protests across South Africa against the white minority government. The resentment against the apartheid government and its policies could be traced to one of its most controversial policies, such as the Bantu Education Act of 1953. This act was fiercely rejected, leading to the birth of “the rise of the Black Consciousness Movement” (BCM) and the formation of the South African Students Organisation (SASO). These two groups significantly raised the political awareness of many young black students as others joined the new wave of anti-apartheid struggles. To further irk the anger of the youth was the compulsory introduction and adoption of Afrikaans and English languages as a medium of instruction in South Africa in 1974. This saw black students begin to mobilise to revolt against these policies. Activism by the youth would later culminate in the 16 June 1976 Soweto uprising that brought about a significant milestone in the politics of South Africa. Owing to its reverberating sounds, the uprising would later spread to all parts of South Africa and subsequently alter the socio-political sphere of the country. The events of 16 June 1976 have continued to inspire and change the political pendulum of South African youths towards politics, especially in post-apartheid South Africa.

South African Youth in Post-Apartheid Politics

Since the demise of the apartheid regime in 1994 in South Africa, the political compass has shifted as young people have taken advantage of the democratic space to become part of the political process shaping the future of their country. Youth participation in politics is a crucial component of any vibrant democracy. In South Africa, the involvement of young people in political processes has been growing, driven by a combination of historical context, current socio-economic challenges, and a desire for change. In the beginning, many youths were averse to political issues; however, as the reality of challenging economic downtones continues to bite harder, many have changed cause and have been actively involved in issues affecting their wellbeing politically. Among some of the factors that have awakened the political consciousness of the youth in South Africa are socio-economic challenges, historical context and social media and technology.

• Socio-Economic Challenges:  Unemployment and lack of access to education have driven most of the youth to become active political participants.
• Historical Context: The apartheid legacy has continued to influence political attitudes and engagement among young South Africans. This has made many of the youth admire the young leaders of the apartheid era, such as Steve Biko and Solomon Mahlangu, and hold them up as role models.
• Social Media and Technology: Digital activism through social media has provided young people with the platforms to express their views about politics in South Africa and beyond, and use them for political and social mobilisation. The internet and social media have made information more accessible, enabling young people to stay informed about political issues and participate in online discussions and campaigns. A practical example is the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall campaign.

In 2015, South African youth had developed a deep interest in democracy. Hence, they began to express their feelings about extant political happenings. Students had been protesting in large numbers on issues ranging from lingering white colonialism on university campuses and tuition fees. The embrego in Rhodes University, popularly called #RhodesMustFall and the #FeesMustFall campaign is of particular note. It is important to observe here that both the Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall campaigns were very successful. Emblems of white colonial were dismantled in Rhodes University and other locations in South Africa, and issues around tuition fees were addressed, as President Jacob Zuma agreed not to raise tuition fees for an academic session.

The Future of South African Youth in Politics in the 21^st Century

Undoubtedly, the future of South African youth in politics, particularly in the 21^st Century, is looking promising. There are many factors at play that increase youth participation in politics, with the four most significant I believe to be:

1. The formation of new political parties, such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by a young militant, is an indication that the youth are positioning themselves to lead the country in the future
2. Growing representation of young people in the South African parliament is another significant step, signalling the role that the youth will play in the future.
3. Frequent engagement of youth with their political leadership across political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and other platforms gives hope of expressing their desire to actively be part of the political process.
4. The role of social media allows the youth to be engaged in political dialogue, to vent their frustration with the direction of their politics, and how to become part of the solution to the politics of South Africa.

Conclusion

There is no refuting that youth participation in politics is vital for the health and future of South Africa’s democracy. While there are significant challenges, the growing engagement of young people in political processes and activism is a promising indication of a better future for South African democracy and politics. However, by addressing socio-economic issues, leveraging technology, and providing platforms for involvement, South Africa can harness the potential of its youth to drive positive change and strengthen its democratic institutions.

You can read the adjoining publication here. 

Ibrahim Yusuf Didamson holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with years of research interest in international relations, public policy and African Politics. In addition to his doctorate, he has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Political Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and a certificate in Journalism.