Youth to confront South Africa’s democratic challenges at Soweto dialogue

Amid declining youth voter turnout, high unemployment, and growing distrust in democratic institutions, young South Africans are set to directly engage with veterans of the Struggle and leaders of the democratic era at the Maropeng Youth Conversation.

The two-day event, hosted by Kagiso Trust, will take place at the Soweto Hotel & Conference Centre on December 10 and 11, 2025.

“This conversation places young people at the centre – shaping, leading and driving a catalytic conversation about South Africa’s future,” says Dr Mankodi Moitse, CEO of Kagiso Trust.

The dialogue comes at a critical time for South African democracy. Only 42% of eligible voters participated in last year’s national elections, with youth turnout significantly lower, while unemployment among 15 to 34-year-olds stands at 46.1%. The event will create a rare space for young activists and the generation that negotiated democracy to learn from one another.

“We are not celebrating Kagiso Trust’s 40th anniversary by only looking back – we are handing over the future,” says Mankone Ntsaba, Chairperson of Kagiso Trust. “But that handover requires an honest reckoning with where democracy has failed, and what young people need to reclaim it.”

The programme includes three key themes. On Wednesday, December 10, morning sessions will explore “Memory to ’94,” asking what today’s youth can learn from the courage and collective imagination of the Struggle generation. Afternoon sessions focus on “Democracy and disillusionment,” examining youth exclusion, governance failure, and civic apathy.

Thursday, December 11, shifts to “Futures and innovation,” where participants will discuss how young South Africans can remake democracy in their own image. The event will close with a commitment ceremony, where youth delegates will endorse concrete action plans with SMART goals, named leads, and 90-day milestones.

Unlike traditional youth summits, the Maropeng Youth Conversation emphasises participatory engagement: intergenerational confrontation rather than consultation, creative expression through storytelling, art, and digital media, and tangible outputs rather than aspirational statements.

The event will produce the Kagiso Youth Reflection Paper, a short film documenting the conversations, and time-bound commitments to renew South Africa’s democratic engagement. Youth perspectives will also be integrated into Kagiso Trust’s 40-year Maropeng legacy publication.