Nonceba Mhlauli Urges Youth to Shape South Africa’s Future

While acknowledging that the challenges facing young people today differ from those of previous generations, Mhlauli stressed that their responsibility remains equally important.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has called on young South Africans to embrace their role in shaping the country's future, saying the courage shown by the youth of 1976 remains a powerful example of how young people can drive national change.

Addressing the Mpumalanga Provincial Youth Parliament, Mhlauli reflected on the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and reminded participants that many of the students who took part in the historic protests were similar in age to the young people attending the event today.

She said the June 16 generation did not possess wealth, political influence or institutional power, yet their determination and collective action transformed South Africa's history. According to the Deputy Minister, the enduring lesson of 1976 is that organised and engaged youth can influence the direction of a nation.

Mhlauli noted that the students who marched in 1976 were fighting not only against injustice but also for dignity, equality, education, opportunity and the right of young people to have a voice in the future of their country.

Youth Parliament Seen as Platform for Active Democracy

While acknowledging that the challenges facing young people today differ from those of previous generations, Mhlauli stressed that their responsibility remains equally important.

She said the youth of 1976 fought for freedom, while the youth of 2026 must use that freedom to strengthen democratic institutions, hold leaders accountable, build prosperous communities and create opportunities for future generations.

The Deputy Minister described the Youth Parliament as an important platform because democracy extends far beyond voting during elections. She argued that healthy democracies depend on continuous engagement between citizens and government institutions.

According to Mhlauli, young people must actively participate in public life by asking questions, monitoring implementation of policies and contributing to discussions that shape the country's future.

She emphasised that young people should not be viewed simply as beneficiaries of government programmes but as partners in development and stakeholders in governance. Over the years, youth participation through structures such as Youth Parliament has helped influence public debate and contributed to policy development across various sectors.

The Deputy Minister also pointed to institutions such as the National Youth Development Agency, provincial youth directorates and municipal youth programmes as examples of how organised youth activism has influenced government action.

Call for Youth Participation in Upcoming Local Elections

A significant part of Mhlauli's address focused on civic participation and the importance of voting in the upcoming local government elections. She urged young people to register as voters, verify their details and make use of digital registration platforms. At the same time, she stressed that registration alone is not enough and encouraged eligible citizens to cast their ballots on election day.

The Deputy Minister acknowledged that many young South Africans feel frustrated by unemployment, inequality, poor service delivery and the slow pace of change in some communities. She said these concerns are genuine and should not be ignored. However, she warned that withdrawing from democratic processes would only weaken the influence of young people on decisions that directly affect their lives.

"Decisions continue to be made, budgets continue to be approved and development priorities continue to be determined," she noted, explaining that non-participation simply leaves those decisions in the hands of others.

Mhlauli's remarks come as South Africa begins a year-long programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising. The initiative seeks to honour the sacrifices made by the students of 1976 while encouraging a new generation of young South Africans to participate actively in building the country's future.