Awam Mavimbela
NOW that the South African Budget speech is done and delivered it was surprising to see that the South African government seemed not to have learnt from history about the consequences of a VAT increase.
History continues to show how it is science in this context.
Expectedly, the government, in its decision-making, should also consider possibilities of youth insurrection, such as the recent youth unrest in Kenya, which was caused by the financial bill. Even though previously, the Kenyan government had approved prioritising mental health, with the target population being the youth.
The results of poor mental health among its population stemmed from high levels of poverty, unemployment, and high cost of living. South Africa has 12 million unemployed people, most of whom are young and predominantly black. Recently, we have observed matriculants struggling to enjoy Section 29 right (South Africans rights to education) due to limited spaces in universities, as well as a lack of funding for postgraduate education. Evidently, South African youth still have willingness to be educated. Furthermore, some medical officers, mostly youth, have been protesting about their unemployment, a fight in which educators, social workers, and others have long since lost energy in pursuing.
The proposed VAT increase was set to take place when students from the University of the Witwatersrand, Nelson Mandela University, and the University of Cape Town, were protesting academic exclusion and a lack of funding. Notably, some students were on a hunger strike in the University of the Witwatersrand where the fees must fall campaign started. That alone should serve as a warning to the South African government to learn from its own history and the history of other African states, regarding what is likely to occur when the youth are angered and suffocated by arrogant bureaucrats with mentally suffocating financial bills.
Another practical example is the 2021 unrests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where youth used the opportunity to liberate themselves from poverty due to high levels of unemployment and hunger caused by COVID-19 pandemic. History depicts that, Kenyan youth were angered by the financial bill because they were already struggling to make ends meet, while watching politicians living luxurious lifestyles on social media. Similarly, South African youth observe politicians being accused of corruption while they suffer with the consequences of that. The VAT increase is likely to lead to societal instability, as the majority of South African youth are already silently protesting through non-participation in civic duties, such as voting. Unquestionably, the system continues to subjugate African youth who have tried to go to school, but the South African government fails to provide jobs.
Another issue angering youth is academic exclusion as they attempt to escape poor depression associated with unemployment and being destitute. Former President Thabo Mbeki has stated that the South African government has no practical plan to fix the collapsing social compact. On this note, a proper social work analysis grounded in the theory of violence highlights that African community violence (coups d'état, insurrections, and violent community protests) result from, inter alia, poverty, poor service delivery, high cost of living, inequality, and academic exclusion.
A common trend among African youth is silent protest through non-participation in civic duties, leading to the youth rejecting results due to social media hype comparing it to a possible compromised election outcome. The latter is evident in past Mozambique unrest. However, where they have accepted the election results and did not participate in elections, they continue to mentally suffocate, much like in South Africa. The theory of violence makes it clear that when the masses can no longer breathe, they revolt, as observed in the Arab Spring and Soweto uprising 16 June 1976.
Therefore, with issues such as academic exclusion, a high cost of living, and unemployment, the Government of National Unity is indirectly inviting youth insurrection. However, youth also have a duty to study such moments and understand the consequences of boycotting elections and abandoning civic duties. Those in humanities faculties should utilise these moments to demonstrate the significance of their studies by educating their peers, in order to save South Africa from collapsing. Insurrection may lead to the burning of infrastructure, causing further pain for the affected groups. However, exercising civic duties may lead to a start in saving the country through proper planning and channels.
*Awam Mavimbela is a registered social worker, former Walter Sisulu University Lecturer, PhD candidate with University of the Free State, and a published author
His views don't necessarily reflect those of the Daily News, Independent Media or IOL.
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