Youth can't afford to be despondent about their future in SA, say teen Parliamentary candidates

JOHANNESBURG - Teenage Parliamentary candidates say their peers cannot afford to be despondent about the country’s future.

There are 15 people aged between 18 and 19 years old who will be vying for legislative seats in the upcoming elections.

This group will also be voting for the first time.

With just under 600,000 registered voters, the 18 to 19 age group has the lowest number of people that will be participating in the upcoming elections.

Eighteen-year-old Resego Gabobonwe is running for a seat in the Northern Cape Legislature for the South African Youth Power Party.

She said it’s never too early to get into politics and fight for a better country.

“Sitting around and doing nothing won’t change our situation. South African Youth Power Party did show me that we have the power to change our lives and it is not impossible.”

Nineteen-year-old law student Benjamin Mankhili appears on the national and Limpopo list for the African Christian Democratic Party.
 
“It looks like the youth has lost hope because they are saying since the African National Congress (ANC) has been in power, the youth unemployment rate is increasing and the economy is falling apart.”

Mankhili said his law degree will help him as a future law maker.