#2026Localelections: Youth divided on voting in local elections
While some young people have cast their votes, others have chosen not to, saying they have yet to see meaningful change.
The youth of Dobsonville remain divided over whether to participate in the 2026 local government elections, with some casting their votes while others have chosen not to vote at Thathezakho Primary School on November 4.
Karabo Molefe told the publication that she always votes because it is her voice and she wants it to be heard, regardless of whether it makes a difference.
“We face issues such as unemployment. We go to school, and some go to tertiary institutions and graduate, but we don’t get jobs. We went to school with the hope of bettering our lives; however, things are turning out for the worse. Service delivery remains an issue as well. We are casting our votes, yet water has become an issue, and it is a basic need,” said Molefe.
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Another young man, who asked not to be named, said he had decided not to vote because he did not know where his vote was going. He added that he had resorted to using substances in the hope of suppressing his stress.
David Mohale encouraged young people to vote and not ignore the impact their participation could have.
“By voting, we are fighting for our communities. We should not be oblivious to the fact that we do not vote, yet expect to see changes. We see things such as our schools, which are no longer being taken care of, service delivery and just the state of our communities. A lot of people overcrowd the streets on a random working day due to unemployment. Therefore, we need to cast our votes for a party that we think will bring change,” said Mohale.
While some young people have chosen not to participate, others remain hopeful that casting their votes will help bring about change and improve their lives.
