Youth disillusionment: a reflection on democracy

YOUTH Month (June) in South Africa prompts a critical examination of the political and economic realities faced by the youth today, highlighting disillusionment, unemployment, and the urgent need for reform.

- NIKIEL MOODLEY

Youth Month is a time to commemorate the courageous students of 1976 who stood up against an oppressive regime.

Their fight, most vividly captured in the tragic yet galvanising Soweto Uprising, was not just about language policy but about systemic injustice, inequality, and a yearning for dignity and opportunity.

Fast forward to 2025, we are now 31 years into a democratic dispensation.

But the question worth asking is: where are we now politically and economically as youth of a democratic South Africa? It’s a question that demands uncomfortable honesty.

In 1994, political freedom was the defining achievement of our time. Millions queued to vote, inspired by the dream of a Rainbow Nation. Our Constitution became a global model for inclusivity, human rights, and reconciliation.

Yet for many young South Africans born into democracy, often referred to as “born frees”, political promise feels distant, if not broken. Today, young people are disillusioned. Voter turnout among the youth is at record lows, and their distrust in political parties is rising.

The 2024 general elections were a historic turning point: the ANC lost its majority for the first time since 1994. This seismic shift was not only a repudiation of poor governance, but a loud cry from a generation that feels ignored, exploited, and left behind. For many young people, politics has become synonymous with corruption, nepotism, service delivery failures, and stagnant promises.