Youth must be social justice champions

“WE ARE not the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of today”. This is a phrase I often hear whispered in activist corners and shouted boldly at student protests. As a young, queer woman of colour navigating the complexities of these identities and the layered complex fabrics of our history as South Africans, this statement doesn’t just ring true — is it my lived reality.

- HAKEEMAH MALAYKAH MATINKA

But then another question puzzles me: why are we told that we are the leaders of tomorrow, or the future? A time that is unknown to me, too unprecedented to even fathom. Why not the leaders of the present, the now, the today?

South Africa's history is one of youth-led resistance. From the Soweto Uprising to the Fees Must Fall movement, youth voices and perspectives have always been the loudest in the face of injustices. Yet, paradoxically, these very same voices are not even given a seat at the table - where it matters.

We, as young people, have always been the moral compass that have shaped the fabric of society. Yes, resistance has always been part of the story, but in 2025, amid growing economic and social disparities, entrenched corruption and the persistent high rate of femicide, we can no longer romanticise this history.

We've always been told that our voice is powerful and that we are the future, yet when big decisions are made, youth representation is still minimal. We are applauded for our innovation, yet dismissed when we challenge the status quo. This contradiction between what we are told and what we are shown is not a reason to disengage, but rather a reason why we, as young people, should be social justice champions. As we celebrate Youth Day on 16 June, this is something worth reflecting on.