Looking ahead, only 25 per cent of South Africa's young people are hopeful about the future being better – seven points below the African average.
South African youths are in low spirit over their future as a result of bad leadership, cynical politics, governance and lack of future direction of the country.
This was part of the findings in the African Youth Survey’s South African Country Report released on Friday during a high-level dialogue, entitled, “My Africa, My Century” held in Johannesburg.
According to the survey report optimism about the future of South Africa has dropped sharply (by 19%) among the country's youth, who express more cynicism about politics, governance and the future direction of the country, than their counterparts in most countries across the continent.
Other countries that experienced sharper declines in optimism according to the report, which was available to SaharaReporters on Friday, were Rwanda, Kenya and Zambia.
Looking ahead, only 25 per cent of South Africa's young people are hopeful about the future being better – seven points below the African average.
These and other findings from the African Youth Survey's South Africa Country Report were announced during a high-level dialogue, entitled, “My Africa, My Century,” held in Johannesburg.
The event was hosted by the commissioners of the annual African Youth Survey, the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, alongside former South African President, Kgalema Motlanthe and the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation and Chido Mpemba, Special Envoy on Youth to the African Union (AU) Chairperson and Cabinet.
The key findings of the survey report were categorised under optimism, climate change, trust in Leadership, delivering on data, foreign influence, COVID-19 and treats of infectious diseases Emigration, security and terrorism among others.
On security and terrorism; the South African youth expressed concern about the threat of terrorism with 48 per cent and two-thirds are reported concerned with political instability (65%) while 35% are dissatisfied with their country's police and security services.
The youths are extremely disturbed about foreign influence in the drivers of negative change in their country.
"Across the board, South African youth are significantly more likely (40%) than their counterparts on the continent (28%) to say that foreign powers are drivers of negative change in their country. 67% of South Africans are concerned about foreign influence; 79% further suggest that foreign companies have taken advantage of their country's resources, without benefiting South Africa's citizenry."
In a statement titled, "South African Youth Reveals One Of The Sharpest Declines In Optimism Across The Continent – African Youth Survey 2022,” the Founder and Executive Chairman, Ichikowitz Foundation, Ivor Ichikowitz, disclosed that the survey was conducted across 15 African countries.
The countries are; "Angola, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia."
The statement added that the survey was conducted by a leading global polling firm, PSB Insights, comprising more than 4,500 face-to-face interviews, adding that the 'AYS' has become the most comprehensive research programme for understanding the opinions and ambitions of Africa's rising generation.
"Conducted over two waves in 2019 and 2021, the survey has interviewed more than 9,000 young people in 19 countries.
"Our second annual African Youth Survey offers a comprehensive measure of the realities seen and aspirations shared by young people across the continent. With South Africa in focus, it is important to recognise that our youth have only known a post-Apartheid state, one offering contemporary rights and freedoms; because of this, they can be more discerning in their demands for trust in government and for even greater protections and our findings indicate that they are truly sounding an alarm," Ichikowitz stated, adding that, "It is fitting that we meet today in South Africa to address the concerns of our next generation, take stock of where we are, so that in deliberating on potential solutions to their problems, we can help pave the road to our shared future".
South Africa's young people further suggest that the priorities for Africa to progress lie within its government's ability to create new, well-paying jobs (deemed the most important issue by 30%), reducing government corruption (25%), increasing access to basic needs and services (17%) and modernising the education system (16%).
Yet despite being a top priority, three-quarters of South African youth polled are dissatisfied with their government's performance on addressing job creation opportunities and tackling unemployment. 42% reported that they were "not satisfied at all" with their country's performance, although a finding slightly below the African average (46%).
The findings in context, the 'My Africa, My Century' dialogue in Johannesburg will follow a specialised process that will result in policy recommendations with clear deliverables and measures of success.
Former President Motlanthe stated that "South Africans have long emblemized the triumph of the human spirit and the power inherent in forging new beginnings, proven to resonate across the country and around the world. Out of the ashes of longstanding injustice and inequality in South Africa, we see today an outspoken generation borne from the yolk of the ending of Apartheid.
“It is vital for leaders present and future to listen to the voices of our young people, those that embody the art of the possible and if enabled, will go on to build the infrastructure which will continue to propel our country forward and to the forefront of the global marketplace. What's clear is that South Africa's next generation will importantly do so with 2022-era diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind, indeed the tenets of a true and modern democracy, revitalising our nation in the process.”
The Ichikowitz Family Foundation is founded upon the belief that Africa's potential can be unlocked through education, the respect for human rights, a better understanding of Africa's dynamic history and the conservation of its rich biodiversity. It is committed to the kind of active citizenship that promotes the preservation of Africa's heritage, the conservation of its environment, and the empowerment of Africa’s youth.
The Foundation uses various channels such as films, music, research, publications, and art to foster dialogue between people, to be a torchbearer for innovation and to build a continent where people are encouraged to dream big and achieve the impossible. Key programmes include: the African Oral History Archive, the African Youth Survey, #IamConstitution and the protection of endangered species.