Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
08 May 2024 | 12:55 p.m. SAST
2-minute read

Image: SA People News

In a recent study, it was found that the young population in South Africa is not a highly registered demographic in the upcoming elections, pointing to their disengagement from the democratic processes in the country.

It was found that only 16% of over 1000 South African individuals aged between 18 and 40 expressed optimism about the future of the country. Most of the respondents voiced concerns about high levels of corruption, unemployment and the presence of undocumented migrants.

Yanga Malotana, the project manager for Project Vote by the Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI) at the University of Pretoria, said that while the phenomenon is not unique to South Africa, it is particularly concerning because the South African population is primarily comprised of young people.

“You would expect that demographic to be higher than other democracies, let’s say, and yet it’s at the same level,” Malotana noted.

The reason for the low youth engagement appears to be high levels unemployment, which leads to low participation in the country’s democratic process.

“I think South Africa’s youth is going through the phenomenon of what we call weighted vote, and weighted is this feeling that young people have where if I don’t have the inability to economically participate in the country…it’s very difficult for me to then [be] part of the electoral process… Usually people who are employed and have the ability to participate economically have a very strong relationship with how they socially engage—with society, with democracy, with the government,” Malotana explained.

Civic society and youth-led initiatives have played a significant role in encouraging democratic participation among the youth, Malotana says, and outlines the need for political parties to bolster these initiatives.

Regarding the success of different political parties in capturing the young South African electorate, Malotana notes that the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) has as a key target a younger audience, considering that its founders are former ANC Youth League members and the majority of its members are younger than most other parties.

Malotana warns against the treatment of the youth as a monolithic group, explaining the need for political parties to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of the problems facing them.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.