Youth Day 2025: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Present and Shaping the Future

On June 16, 2025, South Africa commemorates the 49th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a significant moment in the nation's history where thousands of black students protested the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools. The peaceful demonstration turned tragic when police opened fire, resulting in the deaths of at least 176 young people, with some estimates placing the toll as high as 700. This event motivated the anti-apartheid movement and is now observed as Youth Day, a time to reflect on the sacrifices of the past and the potential of the nation's youth. This year's theme, "Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future," signifies the importance of equipping young South Africans with the skills, opportunities, and support needed to drive sustainable development. It calls for a collective effort to address challenges such as unemployment, education disparities, and social inequalities that continue to affect the youth.

The cultural and creative industries (CCI’s) are vital to South Africa's economy and cultural identity. According to the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), the CCIs contributed R250 billion to the country's GDP in 2021, accounting for 4.3% of the total economic output. The sector also supports approximately 1.2 million jobs, representing 7% of all employment in South Africa. Key domains include Design and Creative Services, Audio-visual and Interactive Media, Visual Arts and Crafts, and Books and Press. The CCI’s offer significant opportunities for youth engagement and empowerment. SACO's Creative Youth Skills Survey highlights the need to understand and develop the skills of young people aged 18-35 in the cultural and creative sectors. The survey aims to identify gaps in core creative, technical, business, and digital skills to inform supportive structures and policies. Despite the potential of the CCI’s, challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, inadequate funding, and policy constraints hinder the sector's growth. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated approach involving government, industry stakeholders, and communities to create an enabling environment for the CCIs to thrive.

Today as South Africa observes Youth Day, the focus is on honouring the legacy of the past while empowering the youth to build a sustainable and inclusive future. By investing in education, skills development, and the creative economy, the nation can use the potential of its young people to drive innovation, cultural expression, and economic growth. As we stand on the shoulders of the brave youth of 1976, we are reminded that every generation carries the torch of change. The youth of today are not just heirs to a legacy of resistance, they are architects of a new South Africa. Through creativity, innovation, and cultural pride, they hold the power to rewrite the nation’s story. Growing up in a post-apartheid society the youth of SA are increasingly active participants in the CCI’s. They are well-known for their entrepreneurial spirit, often utilising arts as a platform for social change and personal expression. Currently the cultural the landscape of SA youth is through the rise of youth-led movements like amapiano music, fashion and various visual arts initiatives. These movements serve as podiums for young creators to express their identities and experiences, significantly influencing local music and fashion scenes. In its recent Economic Mapping study of the creative economy in SA, the South African Cultural Observatory noted that generally, age groups are evenly spread from 25 years to 49 years. This is also the traditionally active work force. In the CCI’s the youth make up on average 39% of total employment. Quarter 2 of 2022 recorded the highest number of youth employment at 41%. The second biggest employed age group is 35-39, averaging 17% of the occupations in the industry.

By investing in the dreams and talents of our youth more especially within the booming cultural and creative industries, we don’t just celebrate their potential; we ignite it. With the proposal of the “Creative Futures”, the prospects for youth participation in the CCI’s of SA are promising. With only 24% of the population using the internet as of 2022 (SACO,2022), enhancing digital skills among youth will be critical for their participation in the rapidly evolving creative economy. This year the SA Cultural Observatory encourages the youth of SA to participate at their upcoming 5^th International Conference titled “Creative Economy Futures” which emphasises that digital focus can unlock new opportunities for job creation and community engagement, ensuring that the youth are equipped to navigate and contribute to a digital-driven world.

Let June 16 be more than a commemoration, let it be a call to action. From township stages to digital screens, from grassroots art to global design, the future belongs to the fearless. And South Africa’s youth are ready to rise.