The Youth Are Done With Excuses and the ANC May Pay the Price, Warns Phosa

A New Generation, A New Political Reckoning

South Africa’s political landscape is shifting, not gradually, but sharply, and right under the ANC’s feet. According to party veteran Mathews Phosa, the ruling party’s biggest threat isn’t an opposition alliance, a factional battle, or even the economy. It’s something far more decisive: young people who have reached the end of their patience.

Phosa, a respected ANC stalwart and former treasurer-general, says the party could see its support plunge to a staggering 26% in future elections a dramatic fall from the 40% it managed in 2024. And the reason is simple: Gen Z and the rising Generation Alpha want nothing to do with corruption, incompetence, and the political nostalgia older leaders keep selling.

A Door Closing on the “Glorious Movement”

Phosa isn’t known for alarmist statements. But in recent weeks, he has been blunt:
“There are signs the sun is setting on the ANC.”

His warning comes as young South Africans, many facing unemployment, under-resourced schools, unsafe streets, and a stagnant economy, grow increasingly disillusioned with all political parties, but especially the one that has governed for three decades.

Generation Z (born 1997–2012) and Generation Alpha (2010–2024) don’t remember the Mandela era, the struggle giants, or the early years of hope. And according to Phosa, that history no longer moves them.

“The Gen Zs don’t know anything about the golden times of the Mandelas, Tambos and Sisulus. They don’t care,” he says.
“All they care about is a better life for themselves.”

Corruption Is the Breaking Point

Phosa says what’s pushing many young people over the edge is not ideology, it’s corruption and the feeling that the system is rigged against ordinary citizens.

The ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which has revealed politicians and senior police officials colluding with known criminals to frustrate investigations, has been a turning point. For many South Africans, especially the youth, it confirmed suspicions that corruption is not occasional, it’s systemic.

Phosa puts it plainly:
Gen Z will not tolerate leaders who “steal government resources and collude with criminals.”

Youth Apathy Isn’t Laziness, It’s a Statement

For two decades, youth voter turnout has been declining. Politicians often call this apathy, but Phosa argues it’s something else entirely, disillusionment with a system that hasn’t delivered jobs, safety, or dignity.

South Africa’s youngest voters want what most adults take for granted in other countries:

• stable jobs

• functioning schools

• safe streets

• no potholes

• a government that doesn’t loot public money

These are not radical demands. But in a country where youth unemployment sits among the highest in the world, they remain unmet.

That’s why, Phosa warns, Gen Z is poised to “vote with their feet” either by voting against the ANC or not voting at all, both scenarios deeply damaging for the ruling party.

Can the ANC Win Back the Youth?

Phosa doesn’t mince words:
“We only have ourselves to blame.”

He says renewal can only happen if the ANC brings in “fresh blood and fresh ideas,” a direct critique of the party’s reliance on aging leadership and recycled solutions.

But the bigger question is whether young people even want to hear the ANC’s apology tour anymore. On TikTok, X, and Instagram, jokes about political scandals have become part of everyday online culture. Many young South Africans openly identify as “corruption-fatigued,” and memes mocking political speeches often go viral within minutes.

There’s a clear message running through the noise:
Young people are not afraid to walk away and they’re already halfway out the door.

A Turning Point Ahead

Phosa’s forecast of the ANC slipping to 26% isn’t just a statistic. It’s a sign that South Africa is entering a generational transition one where political power will shift toward people who want accountability, delivery, and honesty.

Whether the ANC listens, adapts, or fades will depend on how seriously it takes the voices of those future voters.
But one thing is clear: Gen Z is tired, vocal, and ready to reshape the country, with or without the ruling party.

{Source: The Citizen}

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