This is the biggest reason why young South Africans aren’t voting next week

[BusinessTech]

This is the biggest reason why young South Africans aren’t voting next week

While apathy has long been thought to be the cause of low voter turnout among young South Africans, new research by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveals the real reason why many will not be at the polls next week - 3 August.

 

[ellyally]

Young people are growing increasingly frustrated with these issues that continue to plague South Africa,” said Tracey. “Although they acknowledge the importance of voting, our findings show that young people often don’t identify voting as the best way to bring about change.”

The researcher noted that corruption is a major disincentive to voting.

“The participants said that politics is full of corruption and self enrichment, and they see no reason why they should be interested in it, as they gain nothing from politics and voting.

I knew todays youth were stupid, just didn't realise they were this far gone. /shakes head

 

[Agent_Smith]

Tracey’s research findings highlight that this demographic group, in rural and urban areas across all nine provinces, is concerned about four major problems – unemployment, corruption, poor infrastructure and poor education.

“Young people are growing increasingly frustrated with these issues that continue to plague South Africa,” said Tracey. “Although they acknowledge the importance of voting, our findings show that young people often don’t identify voting as the best way to bring about change.”

The researcher noted that corruption is a major disincentive to voting.

“The participants said that politics is full of corruption and self enrichment, and they see no reason why they should be interested in it, as they gain nothing from politics and voting.

“There are signs that the ruling African National Congress’ popularity is waning amongst young people and that this is a generation more open to changing their political allegiance than are their parents,” Tracey said.

The mind boggles! A vote is the most powerful tool in effecting change. It must be the mentality of 'my vote won't make a difference'.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Lazy ass bitches. Recovering from hangover from Tuesday nights party

No excuse!

 

[xrapidx]

“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.” ― Mark Twain

(I'm voting - although, the current way of doing things isn't working - governments are the biggest hindereance to society)

 

[LCBXX]

I knew todays youth were stupid, just didn't realise they were this far gone. /shakes head

Politics is riddled with corruption and self enrichment. Asking the question "How does voting for Politician X or Party Y benefit me?" is quite valid. The problem is that no politician exists that can answer that question. Think back at the Student protests last year where all politicians tried and failed to find favour with the Students.
The fact that democratic politics in this day and age is losing touch with the new generation of Voters is a global problem - just look at the shyte that is going down in America. How the fsck did they end up having to choose between Trump and Clinton, where most young people were backing Sanders?

 

[LazyLion]

Sounds like a terrible excuse for laziness.

 

[BradleyKZN]

The reason is because they are stupid?

 

[skimread]

For a young person a free political party branded T-Shirt is not a cool thing to wear. Free food is also not that attractive.
Political parties need to give international branded clothing to attract youngsters

The ANC has spent over a billion Rand on elections so far. That is like giving 10 million voters R100 each.
You can do quite a lot with that money to attract young voters

 

[Neoprod]

“There are signs that the ruling African National Congress’ popularity is waning amongst young people and that this is a generation more open to changing their political allegiance than are their parents,” Tracey said.

Hmmm...more open to changing their political allegiance but at the same time not interested in voting.

Interesting.

 

[xrapidx]

Hmmm...more open to changing their political allegiance but at the same time not interested in voting.

Interesting.

Demanding (and the destruction it entails) is easier than voting.

 

[c3n0byt3]

Politics is riddled with corruption and self enrichment. Asking the question "How does voting for Politician X or Party Y benefit me?" is quite valid. The problem is that no politician exists that can answer that question. Think back at the Student protests last year where all politicians tried and failed to find favour with the Students.
The fact that democratic politics in this day and age is losing touch with the new generation of Voters is a global problem - just look at the shyte that is going down in America. How the fsck did they end up having to choose between Trump and Clinton, where most young people were backing Sanders?

"Politics is riddled with corruption and self enrichment." : True
"Asking the question "How does voting for Politician X or Party Y benefit me?" is quite valid.": True
"The problem is that no politician exists that can answer that question.": True to a point.

The next problem is that the youth do not know how to or are too lazy to connect the dots for themselves.
We all inherently have opinions on politics as we grow because we tend to see through time the impacts it can have on our lives directly.
The youth have had limited experience, and want concepts to be spoon-fed to them. They screamed for free education but were clueless on the barriers (here and in the US). Bottom line is that when things get too complex the "youth" tend to draw a blank.
Hey it's always been like this, but it's getting worse. Kids want stuff for free, and they want it now.

 

[LCBXX]

"Politics is riddled with corruption and self enrichment." : True
"Asking the question "How does voting for Politician X or Party Y benefit me?" is quite valid.": True
"The problem is that no politician exists that can answer that question.": True to a point.

The next problem is that the youth do not know how to or are too lazy to connect the dots for themselves.
We all inherently have opinions on politics as we grow because we tend to see through time the impacts it can have on our lives directly.
The youth have had limited experience, and want concepts to be spoon-fed to them. They screamed for free education but were clueless on the barriers (here and in the US). Bottom line is that when things get too complex the "youth" tend to draw a blank.
Hey it's always been like this, but it's getting worse. Kids want stuff for free, and they want it now.

I agree with you to some extent and historically it did not really matter what the youth want. Now politicians seem to "care" for the youth yet are unable to find the means to connect, resorting to the media to portray them as lazy, disinterested, etc. The reason why I gave the US-Election/Sanders example is that his message and position largely resonated with the American youth, yet Sanders's candidacy is getting all but got destroyed at the current Democratic National Convention. Clinton has, according to polls, very little support from the American youth voters.

It kind-of speaks to the state of our youth as well I reckon. I cannot tell you what any of our political parties and their respective leaders are actually punting for the youth, other than the usual rhetoric about "the youth are the future". Maimane speeches like he wants every sentence to be a hashtag, Zuma's drivelling cannot even keep his own cabinet interested and Malema is rebellious without being specific on what actually comes after he's done being a rebel.