The webinar was held on Thursday, 21 October, by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). They partnered with Agape Youth Movement to discuss the importance of youth participation in the upcoming Local Government Elections.
The IEC is challenged to come up with ways to involve the youth of SA
With not much time until the 1 November polls, the panellists have challenged the IEC to come up with “innovative” and “digitized” solutions for the future to ensure that the youth plays an active role in the development of the country.
Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, a youth leader, activist and Founder/President of the Soweto Parliament, said at the webinar that there “is simply no infrastructure for young people to vote”.
According to Dlamini, the IEC needs to go where young people are and offer them easy access to voting.
“Young people are in schools… Why can’t young people register to vote at schools and come voting time, we have a special voting category in the classroom? In doing this, already you have opened a new door of young people in millions that will be voting.
“Why is the government not facilitating solutions that will ensure that young people vote in their numbers because the future of the country is in the hands of young people?” Dlamini asked.
Socio-economic challenges also contribute to the low youth voter turnout
Another main focus the webinar addressed is the socio-economic challenges that contribute to the low youth voter turnout. According to Dlamini, these challenges hinder the youth from voting.
“The mind is always a slave to the environment. You look at the environment in townships, there is a bottle store in every corner (sic). The social ills are higher than anything that is productive. Come voting time, you are faced with youth that is drunk, high, irritated and disgruntled.
“We need to do more to make sure that the environment is in a better position to accommodate the mindset that young people want to pursue,” Dlamini said.
The panellists encourage youths to vote on 1 November
The webinar has encouraged young people all over the country to go out and exercise their right to vote in the Local Government Elections.
The panellists also urged the youth to take the time to research political parties and what they represent and promise. This way, they can make an informed decision when heading to the polls.
The panellists said the youth should take the initiative and responsibility for what is happening in their communities, and hold their ward counsellors accountable.
Media Statement: Youth urged to exercise their right to vote
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