Politically Aweh tackles this question and more in its 2019 Elections Special, a bumper episode featuring broadcaster and journalist, Lester Kiewit (Cape Talk, Mail & Guardian). We also talk to two ambassadors for Thuli Madonsela’s M-Plan for social justice.

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The team unpacked the big talking points in the manifestos, uncovered a widespread misleading media narrative around youth voter registration, and explains in the simplest possible way how South Africa’s electoral system actually works.

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Kiewit says, in many cases, South Africans “like to talk about politics, but we don’t want to get involved in politics”. Meanwhile, law student Hlonelwa Lutuli laments the often missing accountability from politicians. “That’s also leading to a lack of credibility that we’re finding as the youth and as new voters.”

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As fewer prospective voters aged 18 and 19 registered, Kiewit adds, “young people don’t see people who look and sound like them, particularly in the theatre of the National Assembly”. This could be a possible reason for the sense of alienation from democratic processes like voting.

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Politically Aweh also interviewed former Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela, who encourages young people to collectively demand that political parties respond to their agenda.

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As the results come in from the IEC, it’s also interesting to compare Lester’s estimates with what’s happening in reality and see how minority parties fared – a major talking point of the episode. The episode ends off with an amazing sketch by comedian Tyson Ngubeni, who is currently starring in Showmax’s Funny People Africa. DM

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Join in the conversation using the hashtag #GetAweh.

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