What do our youth feel about voting?

TALI FEINBERG

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said, “It’s a hard decision to leave home and what you know, but most of us feel change is no longer possible in our lifetime, and leaving and ‘abandoning’ South Africa is our only option. Almost all of my peers talk about leaving or emigrating. You’re almost seen as crazy if you’re not looking at your options to leave.”

This attitude was shared by most of the young people who spoke to the SA Jewish Report ahead of the national elections.

The anonymous 20-year-old says she completed her first year of a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), “but felt the environment was too politically charged and disruptive”. She left, and is taking a gap year doing various courses.

This is her first time as a voter, and “while the idea is exciting, I can’t help but feel a bit despondent and that I’m too much of a minority to see the differences I’d want in my country. I will be voting for the Democratic Alliance (DA) as I feel it is the least corrupt. I believe the members are well-educated and diplomatic, and are passionate about ensuring our country reaches its potential – a difficult task.”

Regarding the current political climate, she believes the youth are “starting to feel that this country is in too much economic turmoil to help build a successful future. The environment is racially charged. Many white youth feel that they are not wanted or valued in the country. The fear is that as white people, even those born into democracy, we will always have to pay for the decisions previous generations made.”

She says there is a clear divide amongst her peers about who they will be voting for. “My non-white friends feel the only party that has and will be there for them is the ANC [African National Congress], while my white Jewish peers feel this way about the DA, and are tired of corruption and being hated for their white privilege.

“We all feel racism goes both ways, and this is not always acknowledged in our country. Major parties often express anti-white views. There are also many young whites who don’t want to vote as they see it as futile, and are set on leaving South Africa eventually anyway.”

She doesn’t see a future in South Africa anymore, “and this breaks my heart. My year at Wits, surrounded by South African youth of all backgrounds, unfortunately showed me that we haven’t moved past racial prejudices and injustices as much I had previously thought. I feel I will never have a fair say in my country because of my experiences as a white person.”

But her final message is relatively positive: “This country is special – rich in history and resources. It has, however, been managed poorly. It is for this reason that I encourage everyone who can to vote. There is less chance of achieving change if we don’t try.”

Others are more hopeful. A matric pupil at King David Linksfield, who will turn 18 just before the elections, is happy that she will be able to take part. Though unsure for a while, she thinks she will vote DA, because she wants a strong opposition.

She believes the youth are feeling “frustrated”, and in regard to her Jewish peers, she says, “We live in an isolated society as white Jewish youth. Because of that, we don’t get the richness, heritage, and culture, and are therefore not invested in South Africa.”

For this reason, she believes young Jews are choosing to leave, and also because they fear economic collapse. However, she sees a lot of opportunity. “I see a future here – I love South Africa, the people, and the culture. If we engage in society, we will see it is a remarkably rich country. It’s not something I would like to miss out on.”

Russel Cowan is 24, but this will be the first time he will vote as he says there wasn’t a party that represented his views in the past. This election, he will vote for the ZACP (the Capitalist Party of South Africa) nationally, and for COPE (the Congress of the People) locally.

Cowan believes both parties have strong stances on property rights and “less government interference. Socialism has failed, and the only way we are going to prosper is to create the right environment for people to lift themselves up.”. Ownership of land is a key to growing the economy, he says, and if the government goes ahead with land expropriation without compensation, he would probably leave South Africa. But he hopes to stay.

He feels the ZACP is the only party that welcomes diversity of opinion and uncomfortable conversations. He thinks the DA changes its message depending on which audience it is addressing.

Cowan says his views and vote are different to his peers and parents – his father was an ANC councillor, and his peers talk about voting for the DA. However, he has convinced many to vote for the ZACP. He says the youth are “not excited or invested in this election, as the parties are just not appealing well to youth”. He worries that, in general, South African youth will be drawn to the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters).

Liat Dayan is 18 years old, and at King David Linksfield. This is her first time as a voter, and she is excited. “I feel like I will finally be able to make an impact on my country, even if it’s a small one. I’m also nervous because I don’t know what to expect, and it’s a huge responsibility.”

She’ll be voting for the DA, as “I don’t have faith in the ANC. It has continuously failed this country, and I believe that the DA could bring about a lot of positive change. Through governing the Western Cape, the DA has shown that it has the ability to govern effectively. It has created many jobs, which I believe is the only way to reverse the cycle of poverty in our country.” She, too, thinks a lot of her peers have lost faith in South Africa, and don’t see a future for themselves here.

Dayan plans to leave to study marine biology, as “I can’t see myself studying here. There are too many interruptions at the universities for me to get the education I want. However, I do feel a responsibility to South Africa to make a difference, and after my studies, I would like to work with ocean conservation in South Africa.”

Jaiden Bank, an 18-year-old at King David Linksfield, is excited to be a first-time voter. “As a citizen of this country, every vote and opinion is important. Change can come about from each individual vote.”

He will be voting for the DA, as he thinks it has “the best interests of the country at heart. It is the party that can help to attain the goals we set out for ourselves and our country.”

He believes his vote will be similar to that of his peers and parents. However, while he remains optimistic about the future, he believes this sentiment is not shared by many other young people. “They are pessimistic, and see the country as being in a state of disrepair. They think the country is too ‘far gone’.”

Bank, on the other hand, thinks that South Africa is a “goldmine”, but “the only way this country can become great is through correct leadership”.

“Everyone voting needs to vote for change and against corruption and injustice. This election is pivotal for our future,” he says. “It’s part of our civic duty or moral obligation to vote for who we believe is best for South Africa and our community. We need to be the ones who stand up and advocate for justice, equality, fairness, and the best possible future.”