Only 16% youth are hopeful

Corruption and crime seen as major impediments to progress.

- Marizka Coetzer

Only 16% of South African youth are optimistic about the future, the lowest number in 16 countries in Africa, according to a survey.

Ichikowitz Family Foundation chair Reuben Ichikowitz highlighted some findings of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation 2024 African Youth Survey in Pretoria recently.

The survey found that 74% of SA youth said the country is going in the wrong direction.

In addition, 71% think the economy has taken a wrong turn. Corruption and crime are major concerns.

By contrast, Rwanda recorded optimism among 91% of the youth.

Ichikowitz said this year's African Youth Survey comprised over 5 600 face-to-face interviews across Botswana, Chad, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Of those interviewed, 50% were female and 50% male.

This was a larger sample than in previous years and there was a special focus on South Africa for the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid.