As South Africans make their way to the polling stations across the country tomorrow, it appears the youth are braced for the forthcoming challenge of electing who leads the nation.
The nation’s youth comprise over 42% of registered voters, with ages below 40. This number threatens to sway the outcome of the election in favor of whoever this young demographic favors.
Not only do they have the numbers, but they have also embraced social media, which is largely popular among them—a tool that has proven to be a game-changer in many elections worldwide.
With over three decades at the helm of government, the African National Congress’ ruling class and the party in general have seen their popularity wane largely due to numerous allegations of mismanagement of the economy, corruption, and embezzlement. Over the years, the party has suffered political blows, with their leadership embroiled in corruption cases and even serving jail time.
Some quarters of the nation have tagged the African National Congress’ three decades of rule as despicable and disillusioned, lacking the necessary leadership to drive a nation desperately yearning for change beyond its present deplorable economic state.
While it is clear that the next South African voting exercise is gearing up for a major change in government, the question looms for all South Africans, but even more so for the youth: who to vote for? It is a precarious and unenviable position that confronts all South Africans.
With the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, also not enjoying overwhelming support, which would have made light work of the entire Wednesday, 29 May 2024, general election exercise, the atmosphere is poised for a grand finale. The political gladiators are making final preparations for battle, and their victory or otherwise will arguably lie with, and be largely dependent on, the youth and who their teeming numbers support.
