As South Africa commemorated the 49th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, political leaders across the spectrum used Youth Day rallies to address pressing issues facing the country’s youth, including rampant unemployment and gender-based violence (GBV).
DA Calls for Economic Growth and Jobs
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen urged the government to prioritize economic opportunities for young people during the party’s national commemoration in Mahushu village, Mpumalanga. He highlighted the crisis of youth unemployment, which he called “the highest in the world,” and emphasized the DA’s role in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to drive job creation.
“We joined the GNU for growth and jobs… Without growth and without jobs, we do not have a future in South Africa,” Steenhuisen said, pledging continued efforts to tackle unemployment.
MKP’s Zuma: Youth Must Lead Liberation
Meanwhile, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma told supporters at a rally in Claremont, KwaZulu-Natal, that the youth must take charge in fighting unemployment and GBV. He declared that only the MKP could solve these challenges, framing the struggle as a continuation of past liberation efforts.
“The youth of this country is on the road to liberate this country… We are still oppressed, but the oppression of this time is at another level,” Zuma said, urging young people to resist complacency.
EFF’s Malema Demands Free Education and Safe Schools
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema rallied thousands at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban, calling for free education, better school infrastructure, and an end to GBV. The event also served as a campaign push ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
“We want teachers who are going to teach our children and who are not going to rape our children,” Malema said, invoking the legacy of the 1976 youth uprising.
IFP Targets Foreign Employment in Jobs Bill
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Velenkosini Hlabisa announced plans to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to reserve 80% of jobs for South Africans, particularly in low-skill sectors. Speaking at Mangosuthu University of Technology, he criticized the employment of undocumented foreign nationals while South African youth remain jobless.
“Employment is given to illegal foreign nationals… This is what we are going to fight against,” Hlabisa declared, vowing to lobby GNU partners and opposition parties for support.
A Unified Call for Youth Empowerment
While political parties differed in their approaches, the common theme across all rallies was the urgent need to address youth unemployment and social injustices. As South Africa reflects on the sacrifices of the 1976 generation, leaders face mounting pressure to deliver tangible solutions for today’s youth.