Youth urged to vote for govt who has their best interest

At the back of Freedom Day celebrations, legendary South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, says it hurts to see young people still struggling to find jobs, 30 years into democracy.

The musician was addressing dignitaries at a Freedom Day event held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa and former President Thabo Mbeki, whose been vocal about his discontent with the governing party in recent years, were among those in attendance.

Speaking at the event, the veteran musician encouraged young people to take to the polls and vote for a government that would look after their interests. 

According to Stats SA, 44.3% of the youth are currently unemployed in the country, making up about 5 million young people without work.

And with just 30 days before South Africans head to the polls, young people say governments’ failure to address this issue, including the current electricity crisis, will not prove favourable for the ANC at the polls.
 

Security concerns have rocked preparations for the elections, with Police Minister, Bheki Cele, moving to alley the fears.

He says a task team has been set up to deal with political violence ahead of polls, across the country’s nine provinces.

More than 200 parties are expected to contest the elections, which are expected to be the most hotly contested polls since the dawn of democracy.
 
Independent candidates will also, for the first time in the country’s history, stand for positions in the provincial and national legislatures.