Democracy falters when youth's voices are 'silenced'

If we fail to protect them, what kind of democracy are we leaving for the next generation?

- PHUMZILE ZWANE

THE recent assassination of US political commentator Charlie Kirk has ignited a global discourse on the precarious state of democracy, the increasing polarisation of political landscapes, and the alarming trend of silencing dissenting voices.

While this tragic event unfolded thousands of miles away, its implications resonate profoundly in South Africa, a nation grappling with rampant political violence and the targeting of activists.

What happens when young voices are silenced, not by choice but fear? When does advocacy become a high-risk endeavour? For a country that relies on its youth to drive democratic renewal, these are not abstract questions; they are urgent calls to action.

Globally, political violence is on the rise. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA, 2021), political assassinations and targeted attacks against activists and dissenters are contributing to declining trust in democratic institutions worldwide.

Kirk’s death starkly reminds us that activism, even in seemingly safe spaces, is vulnerable to violent disruption.

In South Africa, political violence is a persistent challenge. Sources from the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and Corruption Watch indicate a significant number of politically motivated assassinations and a worsening trend, with one report from May 2024 detailing over 141 assassinations in 2022 alone. Young leaders, community activists, and whistleblowers often face threats, harassment, and, in some cases, death.

Consider the case of Sindiso Magagqa, a rising youth leader in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2017, Magagqa was ambushed and fatally shot while opposing corruption within the Umzimkhulu local municipality. His death sent shockwaves through local communities, illustrating the perils that accompany youth leadership and political accountability.