The youth in South Africa (SA), are deeply concerned about the levels of corruption in their country, according to the latest results of the African Youth Survey 2024. The survey takes place every 2-years and covers interviews with over 5000 African youth in the 18-24-year-old population group. The study covers 16 different countries and in SA they interviewed over 1000 respondents in the latest study to provide a specific SA focussed report.
According to the findings, the youth in SA are unhappy with the pace of service delivery, and are weary of having to plan around regular services cuts such as water and electricity supply from local municipalities.
The two biggest triggers for SA youth are clearly corruption and the enormous difficulty of finding a job in a country which boasts the world’s highest youth unemployment.
The same number of respondents are deeply concerned about gender-based violence. The youth’s faith in the police and security services appears to have dropped significantly with 77% of black respondents concerned while (by the South African definition), an unprecedented 92% of white, coloured, Indian and Asian youth are also concerned.
While it is encouraging that the majority believe that the Rule of Law is still important, with most of them believing they are equal in the eyes of the law, only a third are satisfied with the police and security services.
South African youth are keen for the situation to improve. After 30 years of democratic rule, South Africa’s youth still believe in democracy, with almost half of them say they are going to vote at the general election that happened in May, but a growing percentage do not want the western system that they have grown up under. What they want is an African form of democracy.
Emigration on the Cards
What is however worrying is the general perspective on the direction of the country with 74% saying that they believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, up from 50% in 2020 and 63% in 2022. As a further concern a full 48% of those interviewed say they are likely to emigrate from SA, compared to only 13% in 2022, with corruption, economic and educational opportunities cited as the main reasons.
Lack of Optimism for the Future
The starkest contrast in youth optimism towards the future of their respective countries is shown when compared to the response from the other African countries surveyed. SA comes in at the bottom of the spectrum with only 16% showing optimism and excitement about the future of the country, as compared to Rwanda with 91% optimism, Ivory Coast at 72% and Gabon at 67% enthusiastic about the future.
This is again underpinned by the numbers who are keen to start a new business dropping from 63% in 2022 to 56% in 2024, with the two main reasons cited being corruption and lack of access to capital. If South Africa wants to ensure a rapid economic growth that is desperately needed, then Government needs to actively address the key issues that are prompting future business entrepreneurs from leaving to where they believe there are more conducive environments to thrive and build businesses.
All Graphic Images – Africa Youth Survey report 2024
