Why I am going to vote.

One day away from the national elections in South Africa, I found myself pondering out loud on the importance of participating in this democracy, and at least, in my view, the few things that keep me up at night and act as reminders of why days like tomorrow are important, especially as a youth.

1.???? Crime & social fabric: The other day I listened to a truly sad TikTok video. A gentleman relays the story of a neighbor who upon return from work, finds their little sister bleeding. They rush along with the parents to the nearest clinic, only for the nurses to affirm their worst assumptions, the neighbor’s 6-year-old sister had been sexually violated. This story is unfortunately a common occurrence in South Africa. It represents the everyday reality of millions of young girls and women who live under the veil of fear against their bodies and or lives. This incident, along. with the recent killing of a 5-year-old who was killed by hijackers in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. Or the truck drivers who were delivering bread and found themselves at the mercy of heartless people who would kill them for nothing in Delft Cape Town. Speaks to the tragedy of a broken social fabric in South Africa. We have become a nation that is not only desensitized to brutal violence mitted out in our communities daily but has become accustomed to it. Those who can afford, they put some hope and trust in the high walls and private security as the only way to buffer themselves and this violence. Medical professionals, especially those who work in the trauma space, often refer to South Africa as a functioning war zone. This war is played out in the over 84murders per day, the constant state of hijacking, and heightened brutality in what was used to be known as petty crimes. We live in a time in which the fragility and sacredness of life are not valued.

Our social fabric is nonexistent!

2.??????? ?Youth unemployment: As per the latest Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey, youth unemployment by the narrow definition stands at 45.5% or 5.9 million people. When you work in the youth development space, these numbers and stats are not merely just figures but are faces you see every day. Some are holding onto hope, some the light in their eyes starts to dim, many more find themselves struggling to manage their mental health while constantly receiving rejection letters or no responses at all, while millions more are disillusioned.

There is a great sense of urgency needed to ensure that this bulging demographic is provided with the requisite tools and opportunities to become a dividend before it’s too late…

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3.???? Hunger. When you live in a country like South Africa, where there isn’t a challenge of food per se, but more of an access(money) thing, you may forget how many people go to bed hungry every night. It is one of the most mind-boggling experiences, to live in a society of so much, yet so many people go without. Stats SA reports that over 2.1million South African households are experiencing hunger! Beyond the rhetoric of land and how different parties see it, my hope is in the production of sufficient food for all South Africans, even those without the financial means.

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4.???? Governance: Clover South Africa closed down its cheese processing factory in the town formerly known as Lichtenburg in the North West province last year. This came after failed negotiations between themselves and the government (both local and provincial) to resolve the key governance failures that hamper economic activity in the area. The company had long requested support in fixing potholes and ensuring a constant supply of water and electricity among other elements to ensure the sustainability of the company. Unfortunately, nothing was resolved, and Clover relocated the factory to KZN at a cost of over R1.8 billion, close to 30 job losses, and massively impacting the local economy and families.

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There is a fundamental need for a government that has a sense of urgency and is competent to ensure livelihoods are not destroyed!

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5.??????? Education: It should go without saying that our basic education is an Achilles hill to the South African economy and citizenry. The lack of absorption of pupils into the labour force, the international standardization assessments that indicate our grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, as well as the many instances where teachers have tested subpar in the subjects they teach, informs us of the looming or crisis we face as a nation. Rhetorically we speak to the need to be able to meaningfully participate in the fourth industrial revolution, but the outcomes of our basic education along with our allying economy dictate that we are far from competing in the fourth industrial revolution.

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Though for many, their votes may seem insignificant, it is pertinent to remember that a nation is built on the back of individuals who through mutual recognition of a common course, come together in numbers to make a difference. Go out and vote, your vote matters.

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Written by Kenneth Diole