Youth Month 2025: Activism
#38 Celebrating the South African Youth
Activism – Achievements in Depth
In celebration of South Africa’s Youth Month, I have chosen to honor the fearless spirit of the 1976 Sharpeville uprisings, where young people challenged apartheid’s injustices. Today, the youth continue this legacy, driving transformative change through activism in education, gender equality, climate action, and social justice. This blog delves into the specific achievements of these movements, highlighting measurable outcomes, key figures, and the enduring impact of South Africa’s young activists as proven winners.
Historical Context: The Foundation of 1976
On June 16, 1976, Soweto students protested the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, a policy that deepened educational inequality under apartheid. The violent response, including the death of Hector Pieterson, sparked nationwide resistance and drew global condemnation, amplifying the anti-apartheid movement. In Sharpeville, youth joined the 1960 protests against pass laws, contributing to the momentum that led to international sanctions. These events established South African youth as a force for change, a legacy that continues to inspire modern activism.
Achievements in Youth Activism
Fees Must Fall (2015–2016): Transforming Education Access
The Fees Must Fall movement, launched in October 2015, was a student-led campaign against rising university tuition fees and systemic barriers to higher education. Sparked at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and spreading to universities like UCT, Stellenbosch, and UKZN, it saw thousands of students organize protests, occupations, and social media campaigns under #FeesMustFall. The movement addressed the financial exclusion of marginalized students, demanding free, decolonized education.
Policy Wins:
Zero Percent Fee Increase (2016): Sustained protests led then-President Jacob Zuma to announce a 0% fee increase for 2016, a direct response to student pressure, saving families millions in costs.
Increased NSFAS Funding: The government allocated an additional R4.6 billion to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) by 2017, expanding access for low-income students. By 2024, NSFAS supported over 700,000 students annually, a significant increase from 2015’s 200,000.
Free Education for Low-Income Students: In 2017, the government introduced free higher education for students from households earning less than R350,000 annually, a policy directly influenced by Fees Must Fall advocacy.
Broader Impact:
The movement popularized the call for “decolonized education,” leading to curriculum reviews at universities like UCT, which introduced more African-centered courses by 2020.
It inspired global student movements, with South African activists invited to speak at universities in the UK and the US, sharing strategies for education reform.
Key Figures:
Mcebo Dlamini: A Wits student leader whose fiery speeches galvanized protesters, later becoming a vocal advocate for youth rights.
Nompendulo Mkhatshwa: A former Wits SRC president who bridged student demands with policy negotiations, now a Member of Parliament, amplifying youth issues.
Anti-Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Campaigns: Shifting the Narrative
South Africa’s GBV crisis, with femicide rates among the highest globally (5 times the global average per 2023 UN data), has been met with fierce resistance from young activists. Movements like #TotalShutdown (2018) and #AmINext (2019) saw youth organize nationwide protests, vigils, and social media campaigns to demand action against GBV and femicide.
Policy and Funding Wins:
National Strategic Plan on GBV (2020): Youth-led pressure contributed to the adoption of this plan, which allocated R1.6 billion over five years for survivor support, including shelters and counseling services. By 2024, over 50 new shelters were established, many in underserved rural areas.
Legislative Reforms: Activist campaigns led to amendments in the Domestic Violence Act (2022), introducing stricter bail conditions for perpetrators and mandatory protection orders.
Public Awareness: The #TotalShutdown march, led by young women, saw over 100,000 participants across South Africa, trending globally on X. It forced GBV onto the national agenda, with President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing it in his 2019 State of the Nation Address.
Community Impact:
Youth-led organizations like Women For Change established safe spaces in townships, offering free self-defense classes and legal aid to survivors. By 2024, these programs reached over 10,000 women in Gauteng alone.
University campaigns, such as UJ’s #SpeakOut, created campus reporting systems for sexual violence, reducing stigma and encouraging survivors to seek justice.
Key Figures:
Zanele Mji: A #TotalShutdown organizer who mobilized rural women in the Eastern Cape, now leading a national anti-GBV youth network.
Lwazi Ncube: A 23 year old activist whose #AmINext posts on X in 2019 reached 2 million impressions, sparking a viral call for survivor stories.
Climate and Environmental Advocacy: Building a Sustainable Future
South African youth are tackling environmental challenges like water scarcity, pollution, and climate change, inspired by global movements like Fridays for Future but rooted in local realities. Groups like the African Climate Alliance (ACA) and Youth for Climate Action SA lead grassroots and policy-level change.
Local and Policy Wins:
Cape Town Water Conservation: During the 2017–2018 Cape Town water crisis, youth activists in the ACA launched “Water Warriors,” a campaign that educated 50,000 residents on conservation, contributing to the city avoiding “Day Zero.” Their model was adopted in other provinces by 2023.
Plastic Pollution Reduction: Youth-led clean-up drives in Durban and Soweto removed over 20 tons of plastic waste in 2024, with groups like Green Youth Network partnering with municipalities to establish recycling hubs.
Policy Advocacy: The ACA’s 2023 campaign influenced South Africa’s Climate Change Bill, passed in 2024, which includes youth consultation in national climate strategies.
Global Recognition:
At COP28 (2023), South African youth presented a solar-powered irrigation system designed by high school students, winning the UN’s Youth Climate Innovation Award.
In 2024, 19-year-old activist Ayakha Melithafa was invited to the UN General Assembly to speak on youth-led climate solutions, highlighting rural water projects in the Eastern Cape.
Community Impact:
Youth-led urban gardens in townships like Alexandra have provided food security for 5,000 households since 2022, reducing reliance on expensive imports.
School-based eco-clubs, supported by the Green Youth Network, have reached 200 schools, teaching 30,000 students about sustainable practices.
Key Figures:
Ayakha Melithafa: A climate activist whose TED Talk on rural climate solutions reached 1 million views by 2025.
Thabo Mokoena: A 21-year-old from Limpopo who led a tree-planting initiative that planted 10,000 trees in 2024, combating soil erosion.
Social Justice and Unemployment Advocacy: Creating Opportunities
With youth unemployment at 43.8% for ages 15–34 (Stats SA, Q3 2024), young South Africans are addressing economic exclusion through advocacy and entrepreneurship. Movements like #YouthJobsNow and programs like the Youth Employment Service (YES) are creating tangible change.
Employment Wins:
Youth Employment Service (YES): Launched in 2018, YES has created over 120,000 work opportunities by 2024, with youth advocates securing partnerships with 1,000+ companies, including MTN and Anglo American. The program prioritizes 12-month work experiences for youth in underserved areas.
#YouthJobsNow Campaign: This 2022 X campaign, started by young graduates, pressured the government to include youth quotas in public sector hiring. By 2024, 10% of new public service jobs will be reserved for under-35s.
Entrepreneurial Impact:
Youth-led cooperatives, such as the Limpopo Youth Farmers Collective, have created over 2,000 jobs since 2021 by supplying vegetables to local markets. Their model is being replicated in Mpumalanga.
Township-based tech hubs, such as those run by Innovate SA, have trained 15,000 youth in coding and entrepreneurship since 2020, with 30% launching start-ups.
Community Empowerment:
In Khayelitsha, youth organizers established the “Hustle Hub,” a co-working space that has supported 500 young entrepreneurs since 2023, offering free Wi-Fi and mentorship.
Rural youth in the Free State have launched the “Skills for All” program, which aims to train 3,000 peers in vocational skills such as plumbing and welding by 2024.
Key Figures:
Thandi Ngcobo: A 25-year-old who scaled the Limpopo Youth Farmers Collective, now advising the Department of Agriculture on youth inclusion.
Sipho Mokoena: His #YouthJobsNow campaign led to a 2024 partnership with Shoprite, creating 5,000 retail jobs for youth.
Conclusion
The achievements of South African youth in activism, from securing education funding to fighting GBV, climate change, and unemployment, demonstrate their power to shape a just future. Rooted in the courage of 1976, they are building on a legacy of resilience, proving themselves as winners. By celebrating these milestones, we inspire the next wave of change-makers to continue transforming South Africa.
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