While South Africa has made remarkable progress in strengthening its democracy, a critical challenge persists: mobilising youth civic participation. Recent statistics paint a stark picture, with only 36% of voters aged 18-19 years and 58% of voters aged 20-29 years participating in the May 2024 South African national elections. This concerning trend, however, doesn’t reflect apathy but highlights disillusionment, disenfranchisement and systemic gaps in access to civic knowledge and opportunities to engage.
A September 2024 survey by Statista revealed that 60% of South Africans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, mirroring growing dissatisfaction. Yet, young South Africans desire to make a difference, have their voices heard, and shape the nation’s future. We know this because young people form the majority of the protests that take place in the country almost daily. However, they need support to equip them with the tools to engage effectively and meaningfully.
Youth Want to Make a Difference: The Role of Civic Education
“South Africa’s youth are eager to participate. You see this by just looking at the number of young people who participate in all the service delivery protests we witness almost on a daily basis in different parts of the country. Yet, protesting is not the only way to get your voice heard. There are many other ways the youth can fully participate in our democracy, which is the mainstay of our civic engagement efforts,” says Wellington Radu, Regional Head of Programmes: Southern Africa at Futurelect, a non-profit organisation dedicated to civic education and leadership development.
Without a deeper understanding of democratic mechanisms, many young people feel excluded from processes directly impacting their lives. Civic education serves as a powerful tool to bridge this gap by:
- Empowering informed decision-making
- Inspiring confidence to hold leaders accountable
- Building meaningful participation in governance
Through initiatives like Futurelect’s widely accessible online Civic Education Programme, youth aged 16-34 learn how democracy works, how to navigate political systems, and how to advocate for change effectively.
Systemic Challenges Amplify the Need for Advocacy
Young South Africans face additional hurdles that civic education can help address. For instance, inefficiencies in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)—which disbursed R47 billion in 2023 to support over 1.2 million students—often leave learners struggling. Administrative delays require skilled and informed advocacy to ensure policies function as intended.
Similarly, access to quality education remains a challenge for millions. According to UNESCO, 34 million children in Central, East, Southern, and West Africa remain out of school. Civic education enables young people to address such systemic barriers, advocating for solutions that ensure future generations thrive.
The Youth Hold the Key to South Africa’s Future
Far from being indifferent, South Africa’s youth are ready to shape the nation’s democratic and developmental trajectory:
- They want their voices heard. Active youth participation can transform governance systems from local communities to the national stage.
- They seek accountable leadership. Civic education helps young voters elect representatives who prioritise youth-centric policies.
- They demand reform. Advocacy and participation can drive meaningful change, ensuring accountability in institutions like NSFAS.
“For democracy to thrive, the participation of young voices is not optional but essential,” adds Radu. “The youth have the drive to lead and advocate for solutions; we must ensure they have the knowledge and platforms to do so.”
As we look forward to the upcoming local government elections in 2026, young people can use the knowledge from civic education not only to go out and vote but also to hold their elected officials beyond the ballot.
Futurelect: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
Futurelect’s flagship programmes—including the Southern Africa Public Leadership Programme, East Africa Public Leadership Programme, and the Women in Public Office, South Africa Programme—equip future leaders with the tools, networks, and resilience needed to lead ethically and with integrity.
Its Civic Education Programme offers accessible, independently peer-reviewed courses on democracy and governance. Futurelect’s mobile learning app makes these resources readily available, ensuring no young person is left behind in shaping their future.
As the organisation urges schools, communities, and civil society to embed civic education into everyday learning, it remains committed to one mission: empowering young South Africans to be the architects, not just beneficiaries, of democracy.
For more information contact Shaunei Gerber, Head of Marketing and Communications at Futurelect, shaunei@futurelect.org or visit www.futurelect.org. Download the Futurelect learning app on iOS, Google Play and Huawei.
