IN CONVERSATION WITH MOKEBE THULO, CEO at Aware.org

As South Africa reflects on 50 years since the 1976 Youth Uprising, Youth Month continues to serve as both a moment of remembrance and a national reflection on the state of young people today. The legacy of 1976 is rooted in activism, resistance, and the fight for access to quality education and opportunity, but in 2026, the conversation has evolved into a different set of challenges and possibilities. Despite progress in expanding access to education and digital infrastructure, South Africa’s youth continue to face persistent barriers including high unemployment, unequal access to opportunity, limited entry into formal job markets, and growing pressure to adapt to a rapidly changing digital economy. At the same time, there is a visible rise in youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and informal digital economies, where young people are increasingly building their own pathways rather than relying solely on traditional systems. Events such as AWARE.org’s Youth Day gathering under the theme “What’s Next?” aim to bridge this gap between challenge and opportunity by bringing together young people, educators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. The focus is shifting from reflection alone to practical engagement, exploring how skills development, higher education, digital literacy, creativity, and entrepreneurship can translate into real economic participation. At the centre of this conversation is a key question: how do we ensure that the next generation is not only inspired by the legacy of 1976, but actively equipped to shape the future through access, opportunity, and innovation? This discussion explores what youth empowerment looks like in 2026 and whether South Africa is doing enough to turn potential into tangible pathways. Instagram · Twitter