Eyewitness News (EWN) and VOW FM brought young voters into the conversation through a Youth on the Ballot town hall, where representatives from several political parties went head-to-head in a panel discussion on the issues shaping the country’s youth ahead of the local government elections.

Political parties, including Rise Mzansi, Build One South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the African National Congress, placed youth unemployment, skills development and economic opportunities at the centre of their pitches to young voters in Johannesburg.

The DA’s Obakeng Kabela, the party’s youngest councillor in the City of Johannesburg, said a recent tour of the city had exposed him to the despair and desperation facing young people, particularly those shut out of education and employment opportunities.

Voice of Wits presenter, Palesa Magwanye. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini
Voice of Wits presenter, Palesa Magwanye. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini

Kabela said the DA’s local government action plan focuses on getting the basics right, including water, electricity and roads, while aiming to attract 200,000 jobs to the city.

ActionSA’s Lebo Mokoka, who is positioning herself as the party’s youngest transport MMC candidate, painted a bleak picture of Johannesburg, saying the city is in crisis mode. Mokoka argued that the city needs leadership with a proven track record, pointing to party leader Herman Mashaba and his previous work in the city.

For Build One South Africa, Nobuntu Hlazo said young people are entering adulthood without certainty about jobs, affordable living and their future. She argued that Johannesburg’s challenges require not only responses to existing crises, but also better planning for the city’s future.

Hlazo said young people should not simply be spoken about by political parties, but should be part of the decision-making process. She said Build One South Africa is involving young people in developing its manifesto, with the party also placing emphasis on the green economy and skills for the future.

Rise Mzansi’s Lukhona Mnguni put youth leadership at the heart of the party’s pitch, saying young people need to see themselves represented in positions of power. He said leadership should reflect the generation that political parties are asking to vote.

Youth on the Ballot town hall. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini
Youth on the Ballot town hall. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini

Meanwhile, the EFF’s Mangaliso Sambo outlined a series of measures aimed specifically at tackling youth unemployment.

These include maintaining verified records of unemployed young people, expanding training opportunities, allocating at least 50% of opportunities to youth-owned businesses and training young people as artisans.

The EFF also proposed free driver’s licence training for unemployed young people, youth centres providing social services, and restructuring existing youth unemployment programmes to better accommodate young people living with disabilities.

With young people making up a significant portion of South Africa’s electorate, the debate highlighted a common challenge across the political spectrum: turning promises around jobs, skills and economic inclusion into tangible opportunities for the country’s youth.

The panel discussion turned fiery when political parties clashed over who should take responsibility for Johannesburg’s ongoing electricity supply challenges, following a fire at the City Power central substation that left parts of the inner city without reliable power.

 

A question was posed to the ANC on whether it should account for the fact that residents are still facing unreliable electricity in 2026.

Responding for the ANC, Lwando Majiza defended the party’s record and rejected the suggestion that the power crisis should be placed solely at the ANC’s door.

He attributed some of the city’s infrastructure challenges to ageing infrastructure and alleged sabotage by officials and criminal elements.

He also pointed to cable theft and other forms of criminality as factors contributing to the deterioration of the city’s infrastructure, saying the ANC could still be trusted to address the problem.

Youth on the Ballot town hall. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini
Youth on the Ballot town hall. Photo: Sphamandla Dlamini

But the explanation was challenged by opposition parties, with a representative from the DA questioning whether the city could simply blame sabotage when critical infrastructure was not adequately protected.

The DA pointed to the central substation fire and asked why a facility so vital to Johannesburg’s electricity network had not had sufficient security, particularly in the face of widespread vandalism and theft of municipal infrastructure.

The opposition parties argued that political leadership must anticipate threats to critical infrastructure and ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect it, saying responsibility ultimately lies with the MMC responsible for the portfolio.

They questioned how the city could allow a critical substation to remain vulnerable despite the known risks of cable theft and vandalism.

With reliable electricity, water, roads and other basic services emerging as key concerns at the Youth on the Ballot debate, political parties were pressed to explain how they would restore confidence in Johannesburg’s ability to deliver essential services and who should ultimately be held accountable when those services fail