YNews Elections Build-up | Youth demand action, not promises

With local government elections fast approaching, some young people in Tshwane are sending a clear message to politicians, that they are tired of promises that sound good on the campaign trail but fail to translate into meaningful change in their communities.

More than 29 million South Africans are registered to vote in the upcoming elections, representing about 62% of the eligible voting population.

While some young voters remain cautiously optimistic about the power of the ballot, others are questioning whether they will ever live to see the change they have been promised.

From violent crime and alleged corruption within state institutions to unemployment, young people say the country’s challenges go far beyond political point-scoring.

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) activist, Ayanda Lubisi, says these crises cannot simply be dismissed as political talking points.

“These are not just political issues. They directly affect people’s dignity, livelihoods and future prospects. So, yes, I believe voting is very important because it gives citizens an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and influence the leadership of their country.

“However, I also believe that voting must be accompanied by active citizen participation and accountability beyond election day. It can’t be that they want us to vote, but what does post-election day look like for people in those communities?” Lubisi said.

Lubisi believes South Africans ultimately want municipalities that work, leaders who serve their communities and political parties that deliver on their promises, rather than treating voters as numbers to be counted when election season comes around.

In Atteridgeville, the message to those seeking public office is equally pointed: young people want to be heard, represented and given a reason to believe in the political system.

As voters prepare to head to the polls on 4 November, they are urging fellow South Africans to look beyond party slogans and carefully consider who deserves their vote.

Some argue that government cannot continue urging young people to participate in elections while failing to deliver on the issues that directly affect their daily lives.

For Noxolo Mdliva, an advocate for people with disabilities, meaningful change must also include greater representation of people with disabilities in leadership positions.

Mdliva, who has a disability herself, says physical limitations should never be mistaken for limitations in leadership potential.

She believes people with disabilities have the ability to lead, contribute and make meaningful decisions and deserve opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities.

Echoing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for a South Africa in which no one is left behind, Mdliva says the country must unite in pursuit of a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Some young people in Tshwane believe this year’s local government elections will be hotly contested, as growing frustration over the country’s social challenges shapes voters’ expectations.

They also point to what they describe as a gradual erosion of public support, with voters increasingly looking to opposition parties for alternatives.

Young people have also criticised what they regard as government’s inadequate response to the country’s GBVF crisis, arguing that condemnation alone is not enough without decisive action.

Dipeu Tsa Tshwane Civic Organisation activist, Emihle Sabelo, believes this year’s local government elections will be tightly contested.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi-based activist, Tshepi Khumalo, from civic group Voice It In Action, says the responsibility to restore public confidence does not rest on one political party alone.

She believes government must do more to convince citizens that their voices matter and that their concerns are being taken seriously.

“It is very scary because we are facing so many challenges, and currently the unemployment rate among young people is strikingly high. It’s very scary how people are losing their jobs daily, the killings that are happening. There’s just a lot, and I feel like our government is just not doing enough, combined with other stakeholders and law enforcement.

“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t actually vote on the 4th of November. But because I understand that my vote counts, even if it’s just a drop in the ocean, it will most likely amount to something,” Khumalo said.

As election day draws closer, the young people interviewed in Tshwane share a common demand: they want leaders who do more than campaign, make promises and ask for votes.

For a generation grappling with unemployment, crime and uncertainty, the ballot is more than a piece of paper, it is an opportunity to demand accountability and help shape the future they want to inherit.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao