MEADOWLANDS, SOWETO, GAUTENG — At a recent Youth Day gathering in Meadowlands, Mlungisi Mabaso outlined the Inkatha Freedom Party’s strategic vision for youth empowerment, shifting the focus from historical reflection to actionable economic solutions for young South Africans.
Mabaso, who serves as the IFP Youth Brigade Secretary and a City of Johannesburg Councillor, used the platform to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto student uprisings. He paid tribute to the historical youth for their profound unity and refusal to be passive spectators against a brutal regime, noting that their courage in confronting the apartheid government remains a guiding light for today’s generation.
Moving beyond symbolic gestures, the commemoration featured tangible economic interventions. Mabaso detailed how the party’s president distributed R50,000 vouchers to five emerging entrepreneurs across the province. He emphasized that integrating young founders into the local and mainstream economy is vital, as small enterprises serve as the foundational pillar of the national economy and are essential for driving employment.
Addressing the systemic hurdles of late payments and high market entry barriers, Mabaso argued that handing out funds is insufficient without proper guidance. To ensure these five businesses remain sustainable, the IFP is committing to providing them with hands-on skills development. This training will focus on business management and strategies to stimulate local economic growth, highlighting that financial backing must be coupled with operational expertise.
When evaluating existing state interventions, Mabaso was highly critical of current and past government initiatives. He pointed out that despite massive budget allocations to various youth agencies, the tangible outcomes remain dismal. He noted that it is rare to find young founders in local communities who credit government aid for their success. Furthermore, he highlighted that some state programs have been marred by internal board fights, mismanagement in the press, and political favoritism rather than genuine, merit-based empowerment.
Touching on the party’s current position within the Government of National Unity, Mabaso acknowledged that their national impact is still in its infancy. However, he pivoted to the IFP’s proven track record at the municipal level. He revealed that the party pioneered the creation of dedicated youth directorates in all municipalities they govern. These specialized departments were established to centralize and manage youth development, a move Mabaso noted was heavily opposed by the ANC during their previous tenure in the provincial government, but successfully championed by the IFP to ensure young people have a fully-fledged administrative body advocating for their interests.