You can say “I don't do politics”… but can you escape what politics does to you?
Jobs. Salaries. Rent. Corruption. Immigration. Elections. Opportunity. Even leaving South Africa. This conversation gets uncomfortable very quickly.
In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, we unpack why so many young South Africans feel disconnected from politics — and whether the problem is voter apathy, political parties, corruption, money, representation or a system people increasingly feel doesn't work for them.
We debate political campaign funding, youth participation, unemployment, inflation, immigration and xenophobia, Cape Town's housing pressures, corruption, political power, South Africa's brain drain and the growing feeling that many young people simply don't see the results of participating.
But there is another side to the conversation.
Despite everything, the episode ends with a question that matters even more:
What still gives us hope about South Africa?
From young innovators building technology to ordinary South Africans creating opportunities when traditional systems fail them, the answer may ultimately lie with the generation that feels most frustrated right now. The speakers specifically point to young South African innovators and resilience as reasons for hope.
This isn't about telling you who to vote for.
It's about asking a harder question:
What happens to a country when its young people stop believing their participation matters?
Watch until the end and join the conversation.
Do you still believe South Africa's political system can change — or does the entire system need rebuilding?
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