This evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Cape Town City Hall.
While parliament gathered and many citizens turned to their TVs with attentive ears, members of South Africa’s youth provided an important perspective on the President’s speech.
The value of these voices cannot be ignored, especially in light of the upcoming national elections, in which young people are expected to play a fundamental role.
“I am definitely planning on watching SONA tonight because I want to see what changes the president says he’s going to make,” said Kamva, a 21-year-old. Her concerns include youth unemployment as well as crime and violence against women.
How the government plans to address these concerns will play a salient role in how the votes are going to be cast, she said.
“I usually just watch the key points in the days after SONA just to get up to speed, but I will be looking for clarity about the load shedding crisis and how bad it truly is,” said Ben, a 25-year-old, originally from Johannesburg.
“[The] debilitating electricity crisis that, despite significant improvement in recent months, continues to hold back our economy,” said Ramaphosa in his address. But noted that “sweeping regulatory reforms” have been implemented to enable private investment.
While many members of the youth chose to listen vigilantly to Ramaphosa’s address, disillusionment with government progress kept many others uninterested.
“I am not sure I will be watching,” said Khanya, a 24-year-old Cape Town resident. “The unemployment rate right now, especially for people that are graduates, is not looking good. I don’t have any hope in the government at the moment,” she said.
According to Ramaphosa, “More people are entering the job market this year than jobs are being created.”
However, he maintained that steps have been taken to address the youth unemployment rate, mentioning the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), which he stated has provided 1.7 million work and employment opportunities since its establishment in 2020.
As South Africa approaches the upcoming elections, the youth vote looms large as a potential catalyst for change. Whether Ramaphosa’s speech at SONA 2024 addressed the concerns and aspirations of young people, however, remains to be seen.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
