Home Featured Vhahangwele Tsotetsi recognised for bringing the youth together

Vhahangwele Tsotetsi recognised for bringing the youth together

Tsotetsi was named in the Mail and Guardian's top 200 South Africans 2022

by Luqmaan Rawat
Vhahangwele Tsotetsi was named in the Mail and Guardian top 200 young South Africans 2022
Photo Twitter/ @JustJamal_

Johannesburg – The youth are the most important people in a country. The future is shaped by their choices. Project Youth South Africa understands this and has undertaken the task to make sure they utilise their power.

It is for this reason Vhahangwele Tsotetsi, Chairperson of Project Youth South Africa (PYSA), was named in the Mail and Guardian top 200 young South Africans 2022. Tsotetsi obtained a degree in political science and international relations from the University of Johannesburg in 2020. Ready to join the political world he soon realised that there was a lack of trust in political parties. Seeing this, he decided to start PYSA.

“I realised that in this country there’s a lack of trust in political parties. I decided why not just form an organisation that would actually integrate everyone without having to be affiliated with any other political party.”

The starting of PYSA and its work

PYSA is a relatively new non-governmental organisation. Tsotetsi first started recruiting members last year in December. Their constitution was finalised in February and then they moved on with registering their organisation with the Department of Social Work. They are currently embarking on a sanitary pad drive as their project.

“The project that we have embarked on currently is a sanitary pad drive. We invite everyone to come through and contribute to making a young girl’s life easier. To keep a young girl in school.”

Tsotetsi feels these problems exist in the youth because the government does not see them as a priority.

“I think the problem that we have particularly pertaining to the youth is that there’s a lack of priority by our government. The youth constitute the majority in this country, and we continue to see old people who are in the cabinet who are making decisions for the future of this country. These people are supposed to be in their pensions which is absolutely very concerning.”

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The youth can change their own situation 

Currently South Africa is experiencing somewhat of a crisis in terms of those who govern the country. The youth are stressed, depressed and anxious about their future. Youth unemployment is skyrocketing but only they can change this, said Tsotetsi.

“Young people need to be enlightened of what is happening in our country. We cannot be complaining of what is happening without having to go to the polls. Young people need to realise that we have the numbers advantage in South Africa. The problem is not our parents who continuously vote for the same party. The problem is young people. They need to use the franchise that is appointed to them by our constitution and go in numbers and vote for a representative that would help in alleviating the issues that have been faced by the youth today.”

Tsotetsi wants the youth of South Africa to take a lesson from the youth in Zambia. Last year they went out in their numbers and voted out a government they deemed was not worthy. Tsotetsi believes this can happen here, but his peers need to pitch up at the polls.

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Bringing the youth together

At the moment it is difficult to get youth to come to the polls. It might be a lack of trust in the political party, or the youth not being motivated enough. Living in South Africa as a young person can crush anyone’s soul. However, PYSA aims to bring the youth together under one banner to bring about the change which the youth want.

“Young people need to unite regardless of their race, their religious beliefs or their political affiliation. They need to come together as a unit and work towards saving the country. Project Youth South Africa aims to reference past events. When youth come together there’s bound to be a change in political institutions. The youth of 1976 laid a foundation for a democratic South Africa … With youth unity, anything is actually possible.” 

Unity begins at home before taking on the government

The unity needs to start at home first. In their own communities. Tsotetsi understands the youth do not trust the government or see them as reliable. They now need to do the jobs in their communities that the government does not see as a priority.

“They need to come together and embark on activities that would actually help them and their communities. Activities like cleaning up campaigns, sanitary pads drive, collecting school shoes, food parcels for the communities and also patrolling and aiding to alleviate crime that’s happening in communities. More young people need to come together. Whether in the form of civil societies, NGOs or informal student organisations. They need to come together and formulate activities that will better the communities.”

For Tsotetsi, the aim now is to bring the youth under the banner of PYSA. To bring them to the polls and help them to empower themselves and help their communities.

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