when young people turn away from politics

Civic education session in a high school in Cape Town (South Africa). Electoral commission agents explain the voting rules and encourage young people to vote. Of the 35 adults in the class, only two registered to vote. They say they are disappointed by democracy. “No party is made up of angels. There are always people who are there for their personal interest”confides a student. “We are discouraged by empty promises and false hopes”adds another.

In South African universities, the debate is also raging among “born-free”, born after 1994. All studies show that it is not a question of apathy but of a lack of confidence in the system of governance. “If you look at other platforms where these young people are active, it’s clear that it’s not because they don’t want to get involved. They’re just expressing their frustration with the options presented to them.”, argues Cherrel Africa, professor of political science at the University of the Western Cape. Of the 40 million South Africans, 13 million will not vote, despite the efforts of the electoral commission.