Youth discourse is being limited

Sandile Dikeni

Okay, let me not gloat. It is difficult not to. It is not every day that a soccer result can be so entertaining.

I am of course referring to the latest Chiefs-Pirates debacle. I am resisting the temptation to say Orlando Pirates were “chowed”, but the point is that they were “defeated” in their last encounter with Kaizer Chiefs.

Let’s rather converse on a current topic – the youth.

It is a difficult issue, as I don’t really feel young, you see. Maybe I just want to be known as somebody broader than soccer, maybe.

But I recently heard the percent of South African youth unemployment. I can not remember them precisely but believe me they are not a nice read.

Nor was the discussion on radio about unemployed youth a wonderful listen. The figures were high. They were very high. Let me put it this way: during the anti-apartheid struggle, I was a youth activist in the Lwandle Youth Congress in the Strand.

I was detained there and went to Victor Verster maximum where Rolihlahla was held. S’true, I was there the same time.

But that’s not what I want to talk about. I rather wish to advise that I am not entirely impressed with our progress as a nation as far as the youth are concerned.

I do not have tangible facts, but I have a feeling that we could have done more.

I have a nasty feeling that South African progressives have limited the youth discourse at the expense of crude populism. It is an uncomfortable feeling. The depths of June 16, 1976 are missing.

The consciousness of the 1980s is not driving the depths of youth consciousness. I am even scared to comment on youth consciousness because I don’t see its existence.

I can not recall the last time I was impressed with youth discourse. Is there still something called youth discourse in South Africa?

The recent crises in the ANC youth movement is not in my opinion a glorious sign for our national political discourse (oops, there I go again, I had vowed that the national political discourse was not an area for my social brilliance).

I am concerned that our politics do not have a visible social content.

I remember, as an arts activist in the 1980s, how we vowed that the new South Africa was going to be the international stage for the progressive essences in the world. Needless to say, the greatest role player in that discourse was youth dynamism. I do not see it anymore.

By youth dynamism I do not necessarily mean to limit the discourse to political activity. No, I think that the youth discourse is deeper than mere politics.

I see this place as a potential for that evasive world phenomena that can demonstrate the brilliance of the human being. I also think that the big potential in teaching us about the beautiful possibilities of life is spelt y-o-u-t-h.

South African youth, in my opinion has the potential and ability to teach the world about the depths in that essence called umntu. This potential is probably the strongest in my description of this country as a democratic state.

Remember, I still view the current democracy as a tactical situation that must allow a discussion on how humanity, in its universality, must be exhibited. Again, I think that young people are the best articulators of this world exhibition of the human soul. I do think that the best moment in the exhibition of the person is the young person.

I, further do think, that the best person in the world (I have seen the whole world) is South African.

This is not self praise – it is praise of the South African human being. My experience of the soul of the South African is not describable. I can not describe it. As a poet, this is my biggest mission in life, because I really do think that there is something in the majesty of poetic description of this phenomena. It is a beautiful challenge that I think all of us need to participate in. Let me hasten to explain that the youth is more likely to succeed.

That is why the nation must be alerted to the challenges posed by our youth discourse. I do think that we must show effort in winning the discourse. The youth needs to be shown the depths of our regard for them. It is not difficult for me to say the high regard that I hold them in, it is not.

What we need to do, however, is to show them a love deeper than respect and an understanding that makes them understand this beautiful geography as more than mere physical space, but as a home where the human being can be cherished.

I am a bit despondent that we are not showing our youth a love that convinces them that their actual role is bigger than the mere essences of national programme.

They need to know that the task is bigger than merely a post apartheid babbelaas. I think that the achievement of a youth that preaches the beauties of life in this country will be our greatest success.

I further wish to propose that we involve all the major role players in our societies to view this as imperative.

I propose that we admit to the world that 1976 was a brutal moment that still lives with us, in our churches, schools, theatres, sport fields, pubs and streets as a reminder of the evils of narrow thinking.

The glee is that I actually believe that we can do it.

There is some weird reasoning that tells me that the South African society has the potential of teaching the great world that naïve love can help us overcome some of the greatest problems of this concept called world.

I believe that the many complexities of life are not avoidable when our young people are not hugged and embraced in that warm essence called the real South Africa.

I do feel a bit stupid that I am part of a country famous for the most progressive motions in life but unable to comfort its young people.

It is an uncomfortable feeling that we should stop living with.

Deep in my heart I know we can stop being naïve and make attempts at showing a love for these beautiful South Africans.