We Are the Moment: Reimagining Youth Structures In Political Parties for a Stronger Democracy
In a country as complex and youthful as South Africa, the importance of young people in shaping democratic life cannot be overstated. With more than half the population under the age of 35, the future of democracy lies not in distant decades but in the energy, ideas and leadership of today’s youth. I write this as a young Black South African woman who was educated in a privileged private school, has worked in the marketplace for five years, and who has participated in and observed youth political structures during varsity. These experiences have made one truth painfully clear, youth structures in political parties are falling short of their promise, and our democracy is weaker for it. South Africa’s political youth wings carry a powerful legacy. Historically, these structures were spaces of ideological clarity, activism and revolutionary leadership. During the liberation struggle, youth organisations drove powerful change. Today, however, their role appears increasingly symbolic. Many of these structures are constrained by hierarchical control, party discipline and internal political games, rather than operating as dynamic spaces for genuine youth-led governance and transformation. From my own involvement on university campuses, I have witnessed both the strengths and limitations of these structures. On one hand, they provide platforms for political education and engagement. On the other, they often mirror the dysfunctions of their mother bodies, engaging in gatekeeping, reinforcing factionalism and prioritising loyalty over innovation.
This duality raises an important question , are political youth structures preparing young leaders for democratic service, or are they just replicating the existing state of affairs? According to Honwana (2012), when youth are given real power in governance, democracy becomes more inclusive and responsive. However, in the South African context, youth wings are too often treated as support acts rather than decision - makers. Rather than being involved in meaningful policy formulation and governance discussions, youth leaders are often confined to the margins, used primarily for mobilisation, campaigning and public relations. Their role is limited, not because of a lack of capacity, but because of structural resistance to change. This disconnect contributes to growing youth disengagement from formal politics. While voter turnout among older generations remains relatively stable, youth participation is steadily declining. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reported consistently low levels of registration and turnout among 18 to 24 yearolds. This disengagement is not rooted in political indifference but in growing frustration. As Resnick and Casale (2011) argue, when formal political systems fail to reflect the priorities of young people, they redirect their energy into other spaces such as activism, online movements, art, entrepreneurship and grassroots organising. Indeed, the political consciousness of South Africa’s youth is alive and evolving.
From climate change protests to movements advocating for gender justice and digital inclusion, young people are taking action in ways that challenge traditional political frameworks. Yet political parties are slow to adapt. They continue to approach youth participation through the lens of historical nostalgia, missing the opportunity to engage with a generation that is not only politically aware but also technologically empowered and globally connected. Despite these challenges, political youth structures still hold important potential if repurposed. Formations such as the ANC Youth League, the EFF Student Command and the DA Youth have the ability to shape policy, disrupt entrenched hierarchies and drive inclusive governance. But for this to happen, these organisations must move beyond mobilisation to become spaces for strategic planning, policy input and transformative leadership. Booysen and Masterson (2009) emphasise that the internal democratic functioning of political parties is central to broader democratic health.
If youth formations remain marginalised, then exclusion becomes a feature of our democracy rather than a flaw. Furthermore, the issues that matter to young South Africans today are urgent and diverse. Our generation is less interested in historical party loyalty and more concerned with issues that affect our everyday lives such as unemployment, safety, healthcare, mental health support, environmental sustainability and human rights. Political youth structures must become issue-driven if they are to remain relevant. They must reflect and amplify the voices of youth who are often excluded not just by age, but also by gender, geography and economic status. Political parties must do more than include young people as a formality. They must open meaningful leadership pipelines. This means providing young leaders with access to decision-making bodies, allocating resources to youth programmes and mentoring without controlling. Symbolic participation is no longer enough.
Young people deserve real influence over the decisions that shape their lives. As Sefatsa (2020) argues, democratic governance requires civic literacy and long-term investment in youth education and leadership. Political education also needs to be modernised. Many youth structures still teach history as the foundation of political identity, but what is missing is a curriculum focused on constitutional values, public accountability, local governance mechanisms and ethical leadership. We do not need more speeches about past heroes. We need toolkits for creating a just and functional society today. At the Democracy Development Program, we believe that democratic development cannot take place without active, empowered youth leadership. South Africa cannot afford to keep sidelining the very group that makes up most of its population.
We need bold, ethical, informed young leaders who are not afraid to disrupt but also prepared to build. That is what democracy demands. And that is what young people are ready to offer if the system will let them. As a young South African woman, I know the frustrations. I have seen the costs of being silenced, co-opted or ignored. But I have also seen the brilliance, the vision and the potential of my peers. I believe our generation is ready not only to lead but to lead differently, and that difference is exactly what South Africa needs.
References
Booysen, S. & Masterson, G. (2009). Political parties in South Africa: Do they undermine or underpin democracy? EISA Occasional Paper. Gumede, W. (2015). Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times. Tafelberg. Honwana, A. (2012). The Time of Youth: Work, Social Change, and Politics in Africa. Kumarian Press. Resnick, D. & Casale, D. (2011). The political participation of Africa’s youth: Turnout, partisanship, and protest. Afrobarometer Working Paper No. 136. Sefatsa, M. (2020). Youth Participation in Democratic Governance in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects. African Journal of Governance and Development, 9(1), 87–104
