Insights
OPINION: THE MISSING YOUTH IN THE 7TH ADMINISTRATION OF THE SA GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY (GNU)
In an astonishing change of events, South Africa embraces a new era with the formation of the 7th Administration under the Government of National Unity (GNU), which is led by the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD, Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Al Jama-ah, and Rise Mzansi. It is now deeply concerning that the voice of the youth is missing or muted. The youth, especially those under the age of 35, are the heartbeat of our nation’s future. Yet election after election, voter turnout among young people remains abysmally low.
Ratlohogo Rafadi is a Research Associate under the SARChI Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg. On Freedom Day, South Africans commemorate the first democratic elections of 27 April 1994 – a historic moment when, for the first time, all citizens could vote regardless of race , but yet today, many of our young people do not understand the power of the right they now inherit. Many of our youth feel alienated from the political process, disconnected from the sacrifices that birthed our democracy, and uninspired by leadership structures that fail to include them meaningfully and it is for this reason that I feel the GNU must immediately allow the creation of its own youth league organisation in the legislature.
*The views expressed in this article are that of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect that of the University of Johannesburg.
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 81
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online