By Nina Guy
Students gathered at Erfurthuis in Stellenbosch on Thursday 30 April to commemorate Freedom Day through a discussion on democracy and the role of young people in shaping South Africa’s future.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) hosted the event, which brought together students and speakers for an honest and, at times, uncomfortable conversation about political participation in a post-apartheid society.
The BASC leaders, Brandall Swartz and student leader Malika Ngundele, led the discussion, with contributions from Ndipiwe Olayi, Democratic Alliance Youth federal leader. He provided insight into what happens behind the scenes in democratic structures and shared his views on what the SRC should do to remain truly democratic.
Together, they challenged students to rethink their relationship with politics, not as something distant, but as something deeply personal and unavoidable.
The evening opened with a short documentary on Winnie Mandela titled The Trials of Winnie Mandela released on 23 April. The film reflected on the meaning of Freedom Day and the struggles that led to democracy in South Africa.
The film served as a reminder that people fought for the freedoms enjoyed today, often at the cost of young lives, particularly in the fight for equal education.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the growing belief among young people that “voting does not make a difference”. The speakers pointed out that this belief is dangerous.
As Ngundele powerfully stated, “If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.”
In other words, disengagement does not remove one from political systems. It simply removes their voice.
Ndipiwe Olayi reinforced this idea by asking students to participate in the upcoming local elections on 4 November, regardless of political affiliation.
“Your vote matters,” he stressed, highlighting that active participation is the only way to ensure that the government responds to the needs of its people.
However, the discussion went beyond voting.
The speakers encouraged students to think critically about other forms of civic engagement, from holding student leaders accountable to participating in campus initiatives such as the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).
Speakers raised a key concern about the lack of awareness among students regarding what the SRC does and how it represents them, pointing to a gap between student leadership structures and the broader student body.
Ultimately, the event served as both a reflection and a call to action. The event encouraged students to engage more actively in democratic processes, highlighting the importance of participation.
