In a bold move to address the troubling low engagement of youth in South African elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has unveiled a new initiative aimed specifically at increasing youth voter turnout and representation. During a media briefing at the IEC headquarters in Centurion on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo highlighted that with over 21 million individuals aged between 18 and 34, the youth demographic constitutes a significant yet largely inactive voting bloc.
“While our youth population represents the majority of the voting age population, their participation in electoral processes remains alarmingly low,” Mamabolo stated. He noted that this trend extends beyond voting patterns; it also reflects a lack of representation within elected bodies. For instance, out of the approximately 9,473 councillors elected during the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE2021), a mere 1,421, or 15%, were aged under 35. A similar trend is seen in the pending National and Provincial Elections (NPE2024), where only 93 of the 889 elected representatives were young individuals.
To combat this issue, the IEC is rolling out “civic democracy drives” across the nation, specifically targeting universities and 180 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. This initiative intends to ensure that young South Africans are not only informed about the electoral process but are also encouraged to actively participate.
As part of its outreach efforts, the commission is deploying campus-based registration ambassadors to assist students in registering and updating their details, which is vital for ensuring correct registration and voting at the appropriate stations in future elections. Mamabolo stressed the importance of these initiatives, stating, “We must empower our youth to take their right to vote seriously, as it shapes their future.”
In the current political landscape, only a few parties, such as the African National Congress (ANC), uMkhonto Wesizwe, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have established distinct youth structures, which is crucial in engaging this demographic. Notably, the EFF had a strong performance in campus-based voting during the 2024 general elections, despite the overall low number of registered student voters.
The IEC has called on all political parties to collaborate in this vital mission to galvanise the youth vote, asserting that enhancing electoral participation among South Africa’s youth is essential for the future of democracy in the country. Mamabolo urged, “Political parties must step up and engage the youth if we are to realise a truly representative democracy.”