Youth voices take centre stage at Joburg IDP meeting
City leaders pledge to turn young people’s ideas into action as key issues like unemployment, skills development and substance abuse are raised at Brixton engagement.
Leadership from across the City of Johannesburg assembled at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre on April 21, for the 2026/27 Youth Stakeholder IDP meeting.
This dedicated engagement aimed to ensure that young residents directly influence the direction of the city.
The session saw a full showing of senior officials, signalling the city’s intent to prioritise youth issues across multiple portfolios.
In attendance were city manager Dr Floyd Brink, the youth director, MMC for Development Planning Clr Mgcina, MMC for Human Settlements Clr Mlungisi, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Service (EISD) Clr Jack, and MMC for Health and Social Development Clr Makafola.
The engagement served as a vital platform for meaningful discussions on how to resolve youth unemployment, curb substance abuse, expand access to opportunities, support skills development, and mainstream youth development.
City officials stressed that the engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to make the concerns of the youth central to city planning and service delivery.
The focus is on ensuring these voices are not only heard but also reflected in planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
Deputy Mayor of Johannesburg, Loyiso Masuku, said the day underscored the City’s commitment to action.
“This morning we engaged with young people at the 2026/27 Youth Stakeholder IDP meeting, and the message was clear – our youth have solutions and they need a city that listens and delivers. We are intentional about ensuring that these voices are not only heard, but reflected in our planning, budgeting, and service delivery,” said Masuku
Building an inclusive and responsive city starts with placing young people at the centre of development. From tackling unemployment to expanding skills access, this is how we mainstream youth development,” she continued.
Further engagements are expected to be rolled out in other regions to ensure city-wide representation and to consolidate youth priorities into the upcoming Integrated Development Plan.
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