YCL concerned about youth voter apathy

By Busisiwe Mtabane

The Young Communist League says it is worried by the recent survey report that reveals that 70 percent of young people have mixed feelings about voting. The Research Surveys study found that while three-quarters of adults across all race and language groups felt there are many good reasons to vote, 18 to 24 year-olds mostly disagree. The study was based on face to face interviews with 200 people in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein. The league says this poses a challenge to youth-political organisations to go all out there and improve on the predicted 41 percent of votes. Buti Manamela, National Secretary of the young communist league says young people must realise the significance of participating in elections as a means to exercise their rights.