The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) Youth does not believe in superficial celebrations for the sake of political symbolism.
Today’s young people are not apathetic. We are one of the most outspoken and engaged generations to date. We are not afraid to speak our minds on social media.
We care about our communities. We care about safety, job opportunities, service delivery and the future of South Africa. We expect more from our leaders and we are prepared to hold them accountable.
So, Youth Day 2026 should be more than just a commemoration of the past. It should be a day on which young people shoulder the responsibility of deciding their own future and the first step is voting on 4 November.
When it comes to the polls, though, too many of us simply stay away.
If we are bold enough to speak our minds online every day, we are also bold enough to cast our vote on election day.
Millions of young people do not have jobs. Many are struggling due to decaying infrastructure and poor educational outcomes. Young people bear the brunt of the ANC’s failed policies – such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action (AA) – on a daily basis as these policies limit opportunities and hamper economic growth.
The truth of the matter is that many of the causes for which young people fight the hardest – better schools, mother-tongue education, job opportunities, safer communities, economic growth, clean environments and accountable leadership – are ultimately determined by political decisions.
So, we cannot afford to withdraw from the political process. When we stay away on election day, we allow others to decide our future – and these issues – for us.
It is our time to take responsibility for our future.
It is our time to be part of the solution.
It is our time to register. It is our time to vote for real change on 4 November.
