Empowering Young Voices for a Stronger Democracy
AS a lecturer in the Department of History and Political Science at Nelson Mandela University, and someone deeply invested in the future of South Africa, I see a critical gap in our democracy: the under-representation and disenfranchisement of young citizens. We find ourselves at a critical juncture where the active involvement of young people has become more vital than ever before. Empowering the youth of South Africa to engage meaningfully in our democracy is extremely important as our political system undergoes a crucial transition to multipartyism. There are key barriers preventing young people from participating in civic affairs, obstacles that…