Youth political apathy

Simphiwe Malunga

 Email address: mandlamalunga1@gmail.com
Twitter handle: @MalungaSM
Tags: #Political, youth

The 2019 national elections are around the corner, a great concern yet arises whether will the youth take part in these elections? Well, lately it seems as if politics is for the elderly while we as the youth turn a blind eye.


It should not be ignored that the youth dominates SA’s population, which is why it is advisable that we participate in politics. Imagine if only the same dedication and passion that the youth has about entertainment and sports also existed in politics, would we as the youth still be regarded as the ‘‘lost generation’’? Participating in politics starts at school, with you being an RCL or a class representative and likewise in tertiary by joining student politics although it is time consuming. Why should the youth be active political participants? Well, from a point of departure political activities can occur in many different ways namely through elections, marches, protests, demonstrations or campaigns.

Despite the fact that politicians fascinate me when they use jargons with their bellies looking like part of the uniform, I still don’t trust them but think about it, not taking part in political activities does not differ to going out with your friends and have them order food for you while you sit there and say ‘‘every food tastes the same’’. To the youth and my buddies out there, I encourage participating in politics as it is important mainly because it is one of the ways in which they can voice out their concerns and act as active members of society, either you take your own decisions or someone else will take them for you. Get to know who your ward counsellor is, although I still don’t know mine.



Without doubt there are at least ten people whom I know that have never seen a ballot paper in their lives, or worse have never even attended one political meeting. The importance of political participation includes embracing and acknowledging a new democratic South Africa and recognising yourself as a member of society. 73.5% of registered voters casted their votes in national elections in 2014, according to wazimap. Were you part of that 73.5%?  
‘Born frees’ or a ‘lost generation’ are concepts used to describe the youth for their ignorance of politics and the little level of knowledge they have about political activities. Thus the question, should South Africa be led by a young President full of new ideas or a former liberation fighter a veteran with an exile experience ‘‘old generation’’? We don’t owe anyone anything, just because you went to Robben island for 5 years or went for exile in Angola and ate nothing but paw-paws that does not entitle you to be president.
‘‘We need someone old and with experience who will keep the old mandate’’, said deputy SRC of Tshwane University of Technology, Kevin Phehla.
According United Nations youth research, there is 1.65% of parliamentarians around the world who are in their 20s and 11.87% who are in their 30s. Here are few young South African Parliamentarians:
Hlomela bucwa (25) a Democratic Alliance MP

Video: https://youtu.be/O12ZIfAO3aY
Audio: https://soundcloud.com/user-735695460/phehla
https://soundcloud.com/user-735695460/scelos-audio

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