BRAAMFONTEIN, Gauteng — As South Africa approaches the Local Government Elections, students from Wits University gathered in Braamfontein to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and address the pressing concerns surrounding youth voter registration and political apathy. The panel discussion highlighted the stark contrast between the historic struggles of 1976 and the modern socioeconomic challenges facing today’s young citizens.
The discussion took place at the Wits Art Museum just ahead of a national voter registration weekend scheduled for 20-21 June. This follows a recent push by the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s Tertiary Institutions Campaign, which reached more than 90,000 students through over a thousand activations across all nine provinces. The campaign successfully registered more than 45,000 students for this year’s local elections, responding to growing concerns over the declining number of young people participating in the country’s electoral processes.
The panel featured four prominent student leaders: Thandolwethu France, Treasurer at the Wits University Debating Union; Dana Zorkot, Chairperson of the Wits University Dental School Council; Gilbert Nchabeleng, the 2025/2026 Wits University SRC President; and Ramela Modise from the Centre for Diversity Studies at Wits University.
Reflecting on the symbolism of the 16 June 1976 uprisings, Thandolwethu France noted that the protests not only created a massive ripple effect in the political landscape but also significantly reduced the apartheid government’s impact on Black youth. She emphasized that the class of 1976 remains a huge inspiration for today’s youth, who are channeling that same energy into making Gender-Based Violence (GBV) a national crisis—an issue she argues the government has long ignored.
Ramele Modise echoed the historical significance, highlighting the ability of the youth to mass-organize and demand dignified education. However, Modise pointed out that the challenges of 2026 are vastly different. He criticized antiquated employment metrics and a curriculum that fails to prepare students for a future driven by automation and artificial intelligence. Modise also highlighted that social media has become the most effective platform for modern youth mobilization, allowing them to advocate for causes like GBV through silent protests and purple profile picture campaigns without being labeled as violent.
When addressing the current state of student movements, Dana Zorkot emphasized that the freedom and dignity enjoyed today are direct results of the 1976 sacrifices. Zorkot argued that while the youth have a voice, there is a profound disconnect because they do not see tangible action from the government. This lack of response has fostered mistrust, leading many young people to feel that casting a ballot will not actually make their voices heard.
The conversation also delved into the root causes of youth voter apathy. France argued that the issue goes deeper than a simple loss of hope; it stems from the government’s reliance on short-term employment schemes that fail to address structural economic issues. She pointed out that high interest rates, barriers to entry, and a lack of financial literacy and bookkeeping systems stifle small businesses in townships, which could otherwise be powerful tools for job creation.
Modise provided stark statistics to underscore the crisis, noting that unemployment among the 18 to 35 age group hovers around 40%, with 37% of those individuals not in employment, education, or training. He described this as a broken social contract that leaves disenfranchised youth feeling their votes are inconsequential.
Ultimately, the student leaders called for a revamp of youth citizenry engagement and substantive policy transformations. They stressed that until political parties and parliament prioritize the socioeconomic realities of the younger generation over the nostalgic struggle politics of older generations, the disconnect between the youth and the democratic process will persist.
