Youth Disillusionment Tests IEC’s Drive

By SINDI CELE

“I don’t see the point of voting,” says Akhona Xulu, a 22‑year‑old second‑year IT student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). She was among the students present when the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) launched its voter registration drive on campus — an initiative aimed at tackling low youth turnout and rebuilding trust in democracy.

These sentiments were echoed by many students here, including Olwethu Khambule, 26, a student at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal. “We are struggling as students, and now there is even the phenomenon of the sale of student places in universities and other higher learning institutions. With all of this, I don’t see a reason for voting,” she said.

Voices of Disillusionment

The IEC is not having it any easier as these are the fustrations and disillusionments that capture the mood of many young South Africans who feel alienated from politics and who are apathetic about voting.

With more than 1.7 million students enrolled in higher education institutions across the country, the youth represent a powerful bloc — yet turnout among them remains alarmingly low. Studies by the IEC and other researchers show that most people between the ages of 18 and 25 do not vote, and nearly eight out of ten 18‑ to 19‑year‑olds are not registered.

This campaign by the IEC was meant and persuading the students to come out and register to vote and, on elections day, to go out and vote in numbers.

IEC’s Campus Campaign

IEC Commissioner Glen Mashinini told students at DUT that “we need to raise the level of consciousness among young people to understand the architecture of our society. It is important as citizens that they exercise their democratic rights and participate in the elections.”

Student leaders acknowledge the scale of the challenge. Sihle Nkosi, DUT SRC president, said young people are reluctant to vote because they believe their votes make no difference. “Here at DUT, out of 34,000 students, less than 10,000 actually vote during elections,” Nkosi said.

The IEC initiative will be rolled out to other tertiary institutions in KwaZulu‑Natal and beyond, with the hope of reversing the trend of youth disengagement. IEC KwaZulu‑Natal spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said the DUT event went well and expressed confidence that by the time elections are held, most eligible voters, including students, will have registered. “We are encouraged by the turnout and the engagement. We believe that by election day, young people will have taken up their responsibility,” Ngwira said.

Youth Turnout

The commission has announced that the first registration weekend for the upcoming local government elections will take place on 20 and 21 June 2025. Earlier this week, IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini reaffirmed the commission’s preparedness for the polls, saying that systems are in place to ensure a smooth and credible election.

For students like Xulu and Khambule, the challenge is not only about registering but about believing that their vote matters. The IEC hopes that by engaging directly with young people, it can begin to rebuild trust and foster a culture of active citizenship among South Africa’s youth. TQ