Youth urged to seize civic participation opportunities in Johannesburg
As Johannesburg prepares for its upcoming Integrated Development Plan session, David Mawelewele from the Speaker’s office urged young people to step up, stressing that the future of Alexandra and the wider city depends on their voices being heard.
David Mawelewele from the City of Johannesburg’s Speaker’s Office called on young people to actively participate in civic processes such as the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meetings if they want their voices heard in shaping the city’s future.
Mawelewele, who coordinates and facilitates regional IDPs, was speaking during the Human Rights Month’s youth civic engagement dialogue and mock elections at Thusong Youth Centre on Friday.
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He highlighted the upcoming April 9 IDP session at Marlboro, where city officials would engage directly with residents. He stressed that low youth turnout at these meetings denies young people the chance to influence decisions on programmes and services that affect them.
“The city would not know what kind of programmes they need to do for young people. What is good about this is that we give you an opportunity to engage the mayor,” he said.
He warned that disengagement today could have serious consequences in the decades ahead. “If you don’t participate as youth, in the coming 20–30 years, you are going to have a problem because you will be led by people who aren’t supposed to lead you.”
His presentation further emphasised the importance of understanding ward committees, councillors, and local governance structures, noting that these are the entry points for meaningful engagement.
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The dialogue also gave residents the chance to voice frustrations. Some complained about the collapse of services, noting that councillors often fail to report back on basic service delivery issues like the provision of electricity and water. Others questioned whether IDP meetings truly serve the community, since final decisions often rest with officials who may override local concerns.
Mawelewele acknowledged these concerns but insisted that engagement remains essential. “I am not going to tell if you are wasting your time or you aren’t. But we facilitate it and invite relevant stakeholders to become involved. Things might take time, but we must come and engage our leadership,” he said.
Mawelewele urged Alexandra residents to engage with city executives at the upcoming regional IDP, stressing that development depends on active collaboration between youth, communities, and city officials.
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