Youth Day Media Statement

YOUTH DAY TO SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE POWER OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

The South African Youth Economic Council commemorates the 48th anniversary of the Soweto uprising that saw students stand up against the use of Afrikaans as a compulsory medium of instruction. The liberation of South Africa as a whole could not have been possible without the rigour, energy, fervour and impatience of young South Africans who envisioned a country where all people would be treated equally and obtain a fair chance at building prosperous livelihood. The baton has been passed on the the youth of post-apartheid South Africa, with a focus on eradicating poverty, building an inclusive economy and creating a cohort of young people with the capabilities of leading in economic, social and political spheres of the country.

South Africa’s sluggish economic growth, consistently below 1%, requires significant investment into productive assets and capabilities. One of these is human capital. With a median age of 27 years old, South Africa has the potential of reaping a large demographic dividend from investing in young people. Investment into young people must include greater investment into education, with tertiary education being fee-free for all young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Greater effort must be placed in giving young people an ease of upward social and economic mobility. South African currently ranks at 77 out of 82 countries on the Social Mobility Index, signalling that it is relatively difficult for young people born into poverty to transcend their socio-economic conditions and achieve success.

As the global community looks to South Africa as a destination for mining, minerals, the automotive sector, manufacturing and the creative arts, we call for the youth to not only be beneficiaries, but critical decision makers, CEOs, technical experts and innovators in these sectors. From a policy perspective, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, the National Youth Policy 2020-2030 and various other policies aimed at protecting the interest of the youth must be maintained and advanced in all government spheres. We also call for a relentless effort to bring down the staggeringly high youth unemployment rate in South Africa. With youth unemployment sitting at 44.3% at the end of quarter 4 of 2023, creating jobs for young people must be at the forefront of development. SAYEC calls for reforms such as making it compulsory for work experience in the private and public sector to be scrapped wholly given that it serves as an exclusionary mechanism from the economy.

In the wake of the recent general elections on the 29th of May that resulted in no party acquiring a majority, we welcome the outcomes of the negotiation process that has produced a Government on National Unity. This next chapter of our democracy requires all political parties to work together to address the country’s most pressing challenges. We challenge all political parties and their respective youth formations to advocate and lobby for policies and regulations that increase the inclusion of young people in all sectors of society. May the commemoration of Youth Day be a reminder to all our newly sworn in MPs and MPLs of the importance of young people in catalysing change in our country. We urge all youth development organisations in South Africa to work collaboratively with the new Government of National Unity to ensure that the work of youth empowerment continues. Likewise, we urge the new government to continue consulting and working with civic society to inform policy and youth development activities.

Our generational mission is to create a cohort of young people who can enjoy higher living standards, add value to the South African economy and provide steady leadership in critical corners of our country! May the determination of the generation of 1976 inspire us to constantly challenge sour leaders, challenge policy and status quo and fight for a better future for future generations.

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH ECONOMIC COUNCIL

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communications@sayec.co.za / 081 413 5999