Youth Month | A Message from the CEO of the African Centre for Governance
As we commemorate *Youth Month,* we honour the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of the young people of *16 June 1976* who stood up for justice, equality, and the right to shape their own future. Their legacy reminds us that young people have always been at the Centre of South Africa’s democratic journey.
Nearly five decades later, the responsibility of strengthening and renewing our democracy once again rests with the youth. As our country prepares for the upcoming Local Government Elections, we have an opportunity to harness the energy, innovation, and leadership of young people to build more accountable, inclusive, and responsive local governance.
Local government is where democracy touches people’s daily lives. It is where decisions are made about service delivery, economic opportunities, infrastructure, and community development. Young people must therefore not only participate as voters but also as leaders, councilors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and active citizens shaping the future of their communities.
At the African Centre for Governance, we recognize that many young people continue to face barriers such as unemployment, inequality, political exclusion, and limited representation in leadership spaces. Yet we also see a generation that is innovative, digitally connected, and determined to drive meaningful change.
Our message this Youth Day is simple: **the future of democracy depends on the participation of young people.
A thriving democracy is one where youth voices are valued, women are empowered, communities are engaged, and public institutions are accountable to the people they serve.
As we honour the legacy of 1976, let us move beyond remembrance and invest in the next generation of ethical, visionary, and inclusive leaders who will shape a more just, transparent, and prosperous South Africa and Africa.
Together, let us strengthen citizen-centred democracy and empower young people to lead the future.
Happy Youth Month
