Youth Development Agency offers voter education to youth

Youth agency offers voter education to young people across South Africa

South Africans across the length and breadth of the country began casting their votes for the fourth democratic local government elections. This year sees the highest number of voters with more than 26 million people registered to vote. Because young people are the bedrock of our democracy, as they constitute the largest segment of our population.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) concluded its voter education campaign held in Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Free State and Eastern Cape Province. Young people came out in numbers to attend the campaign.

The campaign was designed to support the broader IEC efforts to continue to make people aware of their constitutional right to vote and encourage all registered voters to exercise this right on the 3rd of August 2016 in the local government and municipal elections. Young people were recruited as volunteers and equipped with necessary skills to rollout the campaign in provinces and municipalities that saw lower voter turnout in the previous elections.

According to NYDA CEO, Mr Khathu Ramukumba “Young people have always been critical role players in shaping South Africa’s democracy. Thus it is their role to be the most active citizens and show responsibility by participating vociferously in the democratic process of the country.

The right to vote is a powerful tool that young people can use to advance socio-economic emancipation and inclusion on policy for youth development within local government”

“It is our responsibility as the NYDA to teach the youth that democracy comes with rights and responsibilities. Young people must exercise the right to vote by going to their respective voting stations on Wednesday, 03 August 2016 and casting their vote. It is the responsibility of the youth to vote as this has a huge impact in determining the direction to which the country is going and the future they will inherit” adds Khathu Ramukumba.

Source: Government of South Africa

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