Nwendamutswu warns that youth apathy may continue if there is no policy on young people. We must be very careful not to confuse things when we talk about the depoliticisation of the youth. Politicisation is taking place whether we are aware of it or not, whether we like it or not. After the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the right intensified its anti-communism agenda. That agenda continues up to today and young people are the target.
Information often reaches rural areas late and people have to travel far to regional offices.
Some young people especially in rural and urban working class communities find they cannot afford to take time off for activities outside academic programmes because they have to take care of younger family members after school. Seipati Mathabe, from Diepkloof, is a student at a Braamfontein college. She works at Gold Reef City during weekends and helps to send her younger brother and sister to school. I cannot afford to spend most of my time doing things which won't benefit me. I am helping raise my brother and sister.