Young people lose faith in government

Young South Africans are losing faith in the government. The latest findings of two studies reveal that 89% of those aged between 16 and 24 believe that the government has failed to keep its promises.

The youngsters say "dropping education standards, high levels of unemployment and escalating crime" have crushed their hopes of a brighter future.

The data is extracted from the BratTrax and YouthTrax studies by research group Youth Dynamix, in which 1800 respondents were polled. They revealed that while, on the surface, many young people proclaimed to be "proudly South African", they also expressed a "loss of hope" in the country and the future for them here.

Despite this, however, it remains unclear how the youth will vote on Wednesday.

Following the 2009 general elections, President Jacob Zuma praised the SA youth for turning out "in their millions to exercise their democratic right". He said the youth demonstrated that it was "cool" to vote.

Political analyst Sanusha Naidu said the main issue that emerged during the 2009 polls was the marginalisation of the youth from the political space.

"What makes it different is that, since then, the youth unemployment bulge has increased tremendously, and people feel as if their lives have not improved," Naidu said.

She said in 2009 the youth vote was characterised by internal issues affecting the ruling party. "There was a general consensus that they will give the party another chance ... now what makes it more pronounced is that all the promises of a better life have not materialised."

The two studies, which measured attitudes towards politics and government, were conducted among all race and income groups. Said research director Andrea Kraushaar: "They (the youth) seem disinclined to mobilise themselves and try to challenge the government.

"The general opinion among young South Africans of all races and income groups is that the government has failed spectacularly and that politics is worthless nonsense."

Kraushaar said the youth saw little value in - and not much need for - institutions such as government, large corporations, and traditional and religious organisations. The studies found that 61% of 10- to 12-year-olds, 57% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 64% of 16- to 24-year-olds agreed that politics was not important.

Said Kraushaar: "Young South Africans seem to have come to the conclusion that they simply don't want to be part of this nation any more. In the past, the thought of immigration did not occur to most preteens. But we found that currently just over a third of 10- to 12-year-olds are planning to leave SA as soon as they can."

For the 13- to 15-year-old age group, the figure was 37%. In the 16- to 24-year-old group, 40% are intent on leaving SA.