Ashley Green-Thompson
Image: Supplied
Statistics South Africa figures published for the first quarter of 2026 tell us that there are 42.2 million individuals in South Africa aged 15-64. They represent the backbone of our economy – these are the working age people who are meant to drive economic and social development. Of these, 21 million are younger than 34 – almost 50%. Only 5.6 million of these young people are formally employed. This category carries the heaviest burden of unemployment. For those aged 15-24, almost 61% are unemployed, and 41% of those aged 25-34 are unemployed. The overall unemployment rate is around 33%, and depending on which definitions you use, that figure could be higher. That’s academic – either way it’s a dire situation.
I wish there was a simple solution to such intractable problems like this. When learned economists, educated policy makers and celebrated experts are failing to articulate a path out of the mess, perhaps it is time to make more of an effort to listen to voices not regularly heard in the hallowed halls of power. I recently had occasion to be part of a town hall event where community members from Joburg and surrounding settlements came together to talk about accountability and the perceptions and expectations ordinary people have of their government. Two things struck me in this meeting. There is an almost universal anger at the failures of those in power to deal with basic things that fundamentally impact the lives of people. From housing to education, health to job opportunities – the refrain from Lawley in the south to Rabie Ridge in the north of the city echoed frustration at the failure to realise the promise of our Constitution – dignity and a quality of life that affirms our worth as human beings.
The second thing that struck me about the session was the remarkable resilience of South Africans in the face of these challenges. I felt this keenly expressed in the eloquence with which people spoke. One person spoke in three languages as if they were one. I could understand her as she moved seamlessly between isiZulu, English and Sesotho to tell her story. Agency and resilience were in plentiful supply even as one person shared their story of surviving more than ten years of being unemployed.
We must listen, and listen especially closely to young people. They have not yet been beaten into submission and acceptance of the status quo, and I believe they have the passion necessary to challenge orthodox thinking about how society should be. This orthodoxy that dominates our thinking invites resignation and acceptance of a system that does not work for poor people.
You may have seen a young woman on television commenting on economic matters. Matshidiso Lencoasa works in the NGO and advocacy space and regularly challenges policy makers and government to do better. She reflects on the Constitution and why its promise of a dignified life for all is not being realised, and says “…our economic policy choices are holding us back from achieving the constitutional vision, and our generation is being left increasingly despondent.” She urges an active response from us. “The economy is the terrain of our fight. We win by making the cause legible and compelling to more people, and then turning that broad support into pressure.”
I don’t believe in fairy tales, nor in rags to riches miracles and the narrative of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps (how would that even work?). My encounters with young people this past week have reminded me why we need to listen to them and believe in their agency to change the world. I renewed my driver’s license at the Sandton DLTC and was served by Koketso, Andiswa, Prosper, and Lerato. None of them look like they’ve hit thirty yet, and they engaged with confidence, friendliness, and a desire to do the job well that made up for the irritating computer system failure in the process. They represented the model of successful service provision by a public institution. Let them run more of them.
The town hall facilitator was a young woman called Kea, and she channelled Vinolia Mashego, the inimitable host of the 90s hit TV show Jam Alley as she cajoled and encouraged people to speak their truth. We need to trust young people more to lead and direct processes.
And I spent time in deep discussion with young nephews of mine as they schooled me with their mature and incredibly insightful navigation of life’s challenges. I went from the wise sage dispensing life lessons to silent contemplation of their resilience and wisdom. Maybe it’s time for us oldies to be more serious about the leadership and agency of young people as we search for solutions to our problems.