Ramaphosa Urges a Return to UDF Principles in Combating Youth Apathy and other ills

Johnathan Paoli

In a keynote address at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the United Democratic Front in Joburg’s City Hall on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated how far South Africa has come since the founding of the movement back in August 1983 at the Rocklands Community Hall, Mitchel’s Plain, Cape Town.

Ramaphosa, in his speech, bemoaned the growing apathy and non-performance of the youth in both political structures as well as poor voter turn-out in the elections in general.

He also spoke about the impact of generational tensions and ageism in the involvement of the country’s youth in political decisions and leadership that hold enormous sway over their everyday lived experience.

“Young people, a third of our population, are feeling the cold winds of exclusion from opportunity. They see politics as the preserve of old people and aren’t voting,” Ramaphosa said.