IN CONVERSATION WITH RETHABILE HLAKANE, SALGA YOUTH COMMISSION GAUTENG PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON

South Africa’s declining youth participation in elections is often discussed in terms of voter apathy, but beneath the surface lies a deeper issue: political disconnection. For many young people, especially those between 18 and 34, the problem is not simply whether to vote — it is whether politics feels relevant to their daily lives at all. Local government elections are designed to bring democracy closest to the people, focusing on service delivery, housing, jobs, sanitation, and community development. Yet many young citizens describe a persistent gap between political promises and lived reality. In communities facing unemployment, inconsistent services, and limited economic opportunities, trust in formal political systems continues to erode. This growing disengagement is also shaped by how young people consume information. Social media has become a primary source of political awareness, but it often amplifies frustration, satire, and criticism more than structured civic education. As a result, political identity is increasingly shaped outside traditional institutions like political parties, civic forums, or ward structures. At the same time, youth participation cannot be reduced to absence alone. Many young people are actively engaged in advocacy, community organising, digital activism, and informal support networks — just not always through voting or formal political systems. The key question emerging ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections is whether the problem is youth apathy, or whether political systems have failed to evolve in ways that meaningfully include and respond to a new generation. This conversation explores whether politics is losing relevance among young people — and what it would take to rebuild that connection. Instagram · Twitter