Political Freedom Achieved, Yet the Battle for Economic Freedom Continues

South Africa has spent the last thirty years broadening its educational opportunities.

The upcoming challenge diverges: transforming qualifications into income, skills into entrepreneurship, and political rights into economic strength.

As per Stats SA, during the first quarter of 2026, 60.9% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 were without jobs.

Considering those not engaged in employment, education, or training (NEET), Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey indicated that 37.6% of individuals aged 15-24 fell into the NEET category.

This paints a picture of a generation that has been excluded from the economy before even being given a fair opportunity to enter it.

As we honor and reflect on Youth Day in South Africa, we recognize and remember the bravery of young individuals who transformed history.

In this acknowledgment, we must be cautious; the youth of 1976 demonstrated to us and future generations the true essence of resistance and activism.

They also revealed who the primary agents of change are: the youth.

Our world today is marked by disruption and swift changes, primarily driven by technology, leading to the risk that society is becoming more comfortable with technological advances rather than allowing humanity to be the catalyst for change.

The heroes of 1976 challenged a system that deprived them of dignity, opportunity, and self-governance.

Many sacrificed their education, futures, and, in some instances, their lives.

Physical and political freedom was at stake.

Today, it may not be those freedoms, but rather economic freedom and mental liberation that are at risk, and we must inquire whether we should do everything possible to advocate for it.

This is not an attempt to idealize the past or criticize the present.

The context has changed.

Apartheid provided young individuals with a clear adversary, a visible government, and a blatant injustice.

Contemporary youth confront a more intricate system: unemployment, disparity, corruption, sluggish growth, underperforming educational institutions, fragile local governments, digital disruption, and an economy that often demands experience from individuals it has never permitted to gain any.

Political freedom granted access rights.

It unlocked institutions previously closed to the majority.

It enabled the potential for economic participation. However, it did not ensure economic autonomy.

Currently, a young person can vote, study, graduate, and still remain jobless.

A young individual can earn a qualification yet still be told they lack experience.

A young person can attend entrepreneurship workshops but still lack access to markets, mentorship, or startup funding.

This represents the unfinished business of freedom.

Education remains critically important. The issue is not that qualifications have lost their value.

The challenge is that qualifications alone are no longer sufficient.

South Africa has dedicated three decades to expanding access to various opportunities, including education.

The next phase should focus on conversion: shifting learning into critical thinking, critical thought into employment, skills into revenue, and qualifications into economic empowerment.

We measure the number of young individuals trained, rather than the number of businesses that are still operational two years later.

So, what about entrepreneurship’s role in creating pathways to freedom for young people?

We celebrate pitch events, certificates, and incubator launches, yet we are less rigorous in tracking revenue growth, job creation, or market access.

Entrepreneurship cannot thrive on motivation alone.

Young individuals require practical ecosystems: clients, funds, networks, digital resources, compliance assistance, and seasoned mentors.

The same principle extends to skills development. South Africa does not suffer from a lack of policies, levies, or programs.

It struggles with poor alignment between funds allocated and results achieved.

The aim of skills development should not be merely to funnel learners through administrative processes.

It should aim to transition individuals into jobs, enterprises, or further education with careful consideration, mindfulness, and a moral compass guiding their contributions to society.

If a program cannot illustrate that movement, we ought to question whether it constitutes real development or merely activity and whether it has any value.

We must also acknowledge youth agency honestly.

Young South Africans are not passive; however, many feel weary, disillusioned, and uncertain about where to direct their anger.

Their activism often manifests in ways distinct from prior generations: digital campaigns, social commentary, community projects, creative enterprises, and informal economic survival.

Yet, digital engagement is not always synonymous with organized social change.

The more profound question is whether we have lowered our expectations of young people or placed unattainable demands on them.

We tell them they must take control of their destinies and be proactive in all endeavors.

But can we really expect them to resolve unemployment, corruption, inequality, climate change, and technological disruption while many struggle to secure their first stable income? I think not.

Simultaneously, we sometimes speak about youth solely as recipients of support, neglecting to recognize them as responsible citizens with agency and power.

Both extremes are unhelpful.

Young individuals should not bear the blame for a system they were born into.

However, they also should not be excused from shaping the future they will inherit.

Every generation that transformed South Africa had to make sacrifices.

The sacrifices demanded today may differ from those of 1976, but they are nonetheless significant: the discipline to acquire relevant skills, the bravery to create enterprises, the duty to engage politically, and the readiness to organize beyond mere complaints.

Government, business, and educational institutions must stop treating youth development as a mere slogan.

Firstly, public and private financing for education and skills programs should be linked to tangible outcomes. Enrollment and completion are insufficient.

Secondly, every business and professional qualification must integrate AI literacy, entrepreneurship, and work-integrated learning as essential components.

These should not be optional enhancements for privileged students.

They are now essential tools for economic engagement.

Thirdly, partnerships between employers and educational institutions should become part of formal corporate accountability.

Companies that claim to invest in skills development should disclose how many young people they place, mentor, retain, and promote.

The youth of 1976 fought for political liberty.

The youth of 2026 face a different battle: economic freedom in a nation that has opened its doors but left too many outside.

The responsibility does not lie solely with young individuals, but it cannot exclude them either.

Each generation must choose what it is willing to construct, disrupt, and sacrifice for the benefit of the next.

South Africa’s upcoming youth struggle will be won by transforming education into opportunities, frustration into organization, and political freedom into economic strength.

*The author of this article is Dr. Shahiem Patel, Dean of Regent Business School. The views expressed by Dr. Shahiem Patel are not necessarily those of The Bulrushes