MEADOWLANDS, SOWETO, GAUTENG — The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) recently gathered to commemorate Youth Day, focusing heavily on the pressing issues of job creation and leadership. During the event, Mlungisi Mabaso, the party’s Youth Brigade Secretary, emphasized the urgent need for sustainable youth empowerment to secure the economic future of young South Africans.
Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprisings, Mabaso praised the courage and unity of the youth of that era. He noted that the 1976 generation did not remain passive spectators but actively stood together to confront the brutal apartheid government, a legacy of unity and justice that continues to inspire the party today.
Moving beyond mere commemoration, the event highlighted practical economic interventions. Mabaso noted that the President of the IFP distributed 50,000 vouchers to five young entrepreneurs in the province. He explained that this initiative is designed to encourage young people to integrate into the mainstream and local economies. According to Mabaso, small businesses are the backbone of the South African economy, and supporting them is a critical strategy for driving job creation.
However, Mabaso also addressed the broader systemic challenges facing young business owners, such as late payments and high barriers to entry. When questioned about the long-term sustainability of these new ventures, he argued that current government interventions often fall short. He criticized existing state programs and agencies, stating that they frequently lack effectiveness and, in some cases, favor individuals based on political affiliation rather than merit.
Mabaso stressed that financial assistance must be paired with comprehensive skills development. He argued that government needs to intervene not just with funding, but by teaching young people how to effectively manage their businesses and contribute to local economic growth. He pointed out that in local communities, it is rare to find young people who can confidently say their businesses are thriving due to government assistance, indicating a disconnect between the funds allocated to these agencies and the actual outcomes on the ground.
Addressing the IFP’s current role in the Government of National Unity (GNU), Mabaso acknowledged that the party has only recently joined the national government, meaning large-scale national impacts are still in their early stages.
Despite this, he highlighted the IFP’s track record at the local government level. Mabaso stated that in municipalities governed by the IFP, the party was the first to establish dedicated youth directorates. These directorates were created specifically to manage and coordinate youth empowerment programs. He added that the IFP had to push hard to establish these fully-fledged directorates, facing opposition from the ANC during the latter’s previous tenure governing the province, but ultimately succeeding to ensure youth issues receive dedicated administrative attention.
