People’s Post Constantia/Wynberg E-edition 16 June 2026

CONSTANTIA |WYNBERG

PierceBeaulieubringsa youthvoice to Cape Town’s corridors of powerand he hasbig plans.

He haslived in severalCapeTown suburbs, attended international schools, andspent weekends volunteeringatsoupkitchensand working with conservation groups

NowPierce, alearner at theAmerican InternationalSchool of Cape Town,has takenonone of themost prominentyouth leadership roles, the City Junior ExecutiveMayor of Cape

Town’s Junior City Council(JCC)

To commemorate YouthDay, People’sPost satdownwiththe Hout Bay teen to find outwhatdriveshim,what he hopestoachieve,and what he

ACITYTHATSHAPEDHIM Pierce’s family movedtoCapeTown nearly 11 yearsago,and he haslived in severalsuburbs across thecity sincethen, spending much of histime in Hout Bay. TOPAGE4

Gold Awards for CapeTownTourism

CapeTownTourism (CTT) has achieved internationalrecognition afterscoopingthree Gold Awards at theInternational TourismFilmFestival Africa (ITFFA).

Theawardsceremonyheldatthe Bannister HotelinBraamfontein, Johannesburg,on Wednesday10June, sawCTT take tophonours in threecategories: Gold for Go AllOut Cape Town (Pride Tourism),Goldfor My Cape Town:Armani“Mr Poppins”Minani (BestEpisodeofa TourismCampaign),and Gold for My Cape Town (BestTourism Campaign 2026). Foundedin2019byCarolineUngersbockand JamesByrne,the ITFFA is theonlyfestivalof itskindonthe Africancontinent It recognises excellenceintourism-related film andvideo contentacrossplatforms,from broadcastcommercials anddocumentaries to social mediacampaigns anddestination storytelling

Cape Town Tourism’sChief MarketingOfficer Briony Brookessaidthe awards affirm thecity’s commitmenttoauthentic storytelling

“Three Gold Awards at theITFFA,thisis everything,” shesaid. Brookesaddedthatthe campaignsare rooted in real people rather than idealisedimagery.“Go AllOut Cape Town and My Cape Town weren’tbuilt around postcard momentsbut around people —the grit,the warmth,the complexity that makesCapeTown unlike anywhere else on earth.”

Shesaidthe recognitionbelongs notonlyto thecreativeteams butalsotoresidents who shared theirstories.“This one’sfor everyCapetonian whoappeared in frontofour cameras andtrusted us with theirstory.”

JamesVos,Mayco member foreconomic growth andtourism,saidthe achievement

strengthensthe city’s global tourismposition. He describedthe awards as a“powerful endorsement” of strategicinvestmentindestination marketing.

AccordingtoVos,campaigns of this calibre help driveinternational interest,increase visitornumbers,and support jobs across the tourismvalue chain.

“Tourism remainscentral to Cape Town’s economic growth strategy,” he said,adding that thefocus nowisonexpanding thebenefits of tourismtomorecommunities andconverting interest into bookings andeconomicopportunity

Ungersbock praisedCapeTownTourism for itsauthentic approach to storytelling,sayingthe campaignsstood outfor theiremotional depth andclarity of message.“From theboldenergy of Go AllOut Cape Town to thedeeply human storytelling of My Cape Town,their filmscaptivatedaudiences andjudgesalike,” shesaid. Byrne, whoisalsothe festival director,added that they hadset anew benchmark. Theorganisation “knows whoitis, tells itsstory with confidence, anddeliversworld-class creative execution.”

TheITFFA recognises outstandingtourism filmsthatinspire global audiencestoexplore destinations.CapeTown’striplegoldvictory positionsthe city notonlyasa sought-after travel destinationbut also as aleaderinhow places arecreativelyand authentically represented on theglobalstage

Hopefullythistournamentcanstill beasourceofhopeandcommunity

phiweTshabalalascoredthe WorldCup opener in 2010 andsaid: “goalfor SouthAfrica! Goal forall Africa!BafanaBafanahavepoppedthe firstcork! SipTshabalala!”

In 2022

At last,fouryears later, themostbeautifulgameinthe worldreturns to pitthe best football playersagainst each other andcrown thebestfootballing nation whogetstoliftthatlegendary golden trophy at this year’s FIFA WorldCup

This time thetreasured tournament takes placeonNorth American soil,inthe ageof unprecedentedtechnological innovation with Artificial Intelligence(AI), PresidentTrump’s second term,conflictinthe MiddleEastand an immigrationcrisiswhich hassparked much debate recently,especially in SouthAfrica.

This year theWorld Cupisdescribed as the largesttournamentinhistory featuring48 teams. However, much controversyhas tainted thehypeand joythe tournament is meantto bringtomillionsacrossthe globe.

Reportshavehighlighted theinsanecosts of flight tickets, hotelaccommodation,transport, visa barriers, security crackdowns allofwhich arecompoundedbythe rising inflationrates andpetrolpricesthatshows no sign of slowing down in themidst of theIranwar Despiteour financialchallenges,the arrivalof theWorld Cupstill carries breathless andiconic momentswhere homesorbarsare filledwith friendsand families whocongregateonmatch days despitea busy week

Throughthe ages,you’llsee thelatenights, thesnacksand beer bottles adorning thetables whilefansshout at thetop of theirlungs upon hearingthe netcrack at alast-minute goal when allhopeseemed lost.It’swonderous to see sports’profoundeffects to galvaniseand pacify acrowd as if theplayers arethe conductorand thefansare theorchestra,liketheir heartstrings arebeing pluckedbyevery tackle,unfairreferee call, skillorcareer-shattering injury Let’snot forget thepoetryofthe commentators whonarrate andbreathe life into these matchesand immortalisemoments as deftly as renowned broadcasterPeter Drurydid when Si-

Drurysaidthismomentwas from his favouritefootball matchheevercommentated on,calling it amomentthat“transcendedsport andmeant so much forthe worldthatthis humble boyfromSowetoscoredthe goal of his dreams”. Ican stillrecallthe carnival feverthat hummedinthe airduringthe 2010 WorldCup that graced ourshores. Shakira’sWakaWaka andTkzee’sBafanaanthemserenaded theCape thoseyears.I wasinGrade 11 that time andrecall fond momentsdebatingwithschool friends aboutwho we thoughtwould conquerthe cup andwhich playerswould make history.

Thoseyears Spain’s firstelevenseemed as impervious as SpartantroopswhilstI supported Netherlandsinthe final, watching sadlyinmy bright orange topasSpain clearlyoutclassed theDutch You’ll oftenhearexcitementspeakingwith SouthAfricanswho recalledwhatitfeltlike goingtogames during the2010World Cup. Andyet theseiconicmoments of sheer entertainment stillreverberate yearslater

Ican remember watching in disbelief, the greatest WorldCup finalin2022whenArgentina andFrancebattled it outtillpenalties and Lionel Messi finally silenced thecritics and lifted thetrophyinQatar.Thistournamentwas also drenched in scandaland tragedyasmany of thebuilderswereenduringharsh working andlivingconditionsand many died whilst constructing thestadiums. Sadlyitseemsthere’s always adarkcloud of mistreatment,violenceand corruptionblanketingeachFifaWorld Cup.

Recently aSomalianreferee, Omar Artan, was denied entrytothe United States andprevented from officiatingatthisyear’stournament. Research showsSomalia is oneof12countries on atravelban list introduced by America’s presidentDonaldTrump last year

StillI hope this year’s WorldCup canstill be asourceofhopeand community with differentraces,culturesand religionswho canstill appreciate agreat matchoffootball no matter whichteamwesupport or anthem we sing

Alionbowsout ,but theroarlingerson

NAMHLAMONAKALI

Charlie Flanagan leaves theLions Club of Tokaiwitha year of service, heartand humanity behind himand aworld of possibility ahead.

Theroom wasfull, butitwas thesilencesthat said themost.

On Sunday 7June, membersofthe Lions Club of Tokaigatheredtosay goodbyetotheir outgoing president, Flanagan,a manwho,over thepastyear, hadmadea habitofturning up quietlyand leavingloudlyinthe heartsofthose he served

It wasa farewell wrappedinwarmth, handshakes that lingered alittletoo long,eyesthat glisteneda littletoo bright,and theparticular hush that falls over aroom when everyone knowssomething importantisending.

Flanagan will leaveSouth Africa laterthis monthtotakeupanopportunityabroad. But before he goes,his fellowLions made sure he knew exactlywhathis year at thehelmhad meant.

AYEAROFRECOGNITIONANDRESILIENCE

When Flanagan looksbackonhis tenure,one moment stands outabove thenoise of logistics, fundraisingdrivesand committeemeetings.

“Seeing theclubrecognisedbyDistrict410W forbeing in thetop five clubs, as well as top five presidents,treasurer andsecretary,” he said

It wasnot asmall achievement. District 410W includes dozens of clubsacrossthe region,and landinginthe top five across multiple categories speaks of an organisation firing on allcylinders from theboardroom to thesoupkitchen Butrecognition,Flanaganisquick to point out, is only onesideofthe ledger.The other side is harder to quantify

“One of thebiggest challenges is servingcommunities with ever-growing needsinsomany areasofdisasterrelief, unemployment and financial struggles,” he said In ayearmarkednationally by cost-of-living

pressuresand deepeninginequality, theLions Club of Tokaifound itself answeringa call that neverseemed to stop ringing.

“Our resilience as aclub, fundraising anddoingneedsassessments,has enabledustoserve thosewho aremostinneed.Wehavemanaged to servejuston50000 people this year,” Flanagansaid.

GROWTHFROMTHEINSIDEOUT

UnderFlanagan’swatch,the club didnot simplymaintainits footprint, it expanded it

“Our club hasgrown notonlyinmembership butalsointhe varietyofprojectswedo, of whichthere aremany.

“Our club membershavealsogrown in personal developmentwithnumeroustraining events,including leadership,” he said

That internal cultureofgrowth, theideathat serviceorganisations must developtheir people as much as they developtheir communities,is somethingFlanaganclearly holdsclose

“Being apresident is an honour andprivilege It hascertainly allowedmetodevelop and modelservant leadership as aLionand in my professional life,” he said

THEMOMENTSTHATSTAY

Askany leader what they will remember most, andthe answer is rarely astrategyora statistic. ForFlanagan, it is themoments that arrived withoutwarning andlodgedthemselvessomewherepermanent

Therewas thechild whoreceiveda pair of spectacles througha Lionsvisionoutreachprojectand whosuddenlyencountered theworld in sharp, clearfocus forthe very firsttime.

Therewas theorphanedchild at aChristmas eventwho,uponreceiving agiftfromFather Christmas, turned to an adultwithwide, uncertaineyesand askedwhether thepresent was really forher andwhether shehad to shareit with everyone else

Andthenthere wasthe boy. “Havinga mentally challenged boycomeand standnext

to youand then placingone of hissweetiesin your pocket afteryou gave himsometimeand attention,”Flanaganrecalled.

In theeconomy of humankindness, asingle sweetie pressedintoa stranger’s pocket canbe worthmorethana thousand-randdonation.

Flanagan knowsthis. It is,perhaps,why he leadsthe wayhedoes.

THEFAREWELL

Sunday’s gatheringwas notdesignedtobeunderstated, butitwas theunderstated moments that Flanagan foundmostmoving.

“The farewell wasa very emotionalday forme, seeing thekindnessand caring andloveofthe membersjustdoing what comesnaturally to them,being kind andgrateful,” he said

Flanagan wasquick to sharethe credit,ashe hasbeen throughout hisyearinoffice

“There aremanymembers whohaveundertakenthe tasksathandwithpassion,pride and integritywho contributedtomakingour club what it is,” he said

WHATCOMESNEXT

Flanagan is characteristically measured about what lies ahead, though thereisnomistaking thequiet excitement beneaththe surface.

“Myopportunityabroadisone whichwill allowmetoutilise my skills andexperienceon anotherlevel.WhatI am lookingforward to is growth andexpanding my abilitytocontribute to more people as aservant leader,” he said He leaves with asimplebut sinceremessage to themembers he is leavingbehind. “Don’t forget to be awesome. ”

Andhis partinghope?

That themannerinwhich he ledwilloutlast thememoryofanythinghespecifically did.

“I hope that Iwillbesomeone whoisrememberedassomeone whopractised servantleadership with love andcompassion,” he said Forthe LionsClubofTokai,the search fora newchapter begins.For Flanagan,sodoesone of hisown

WE HAVE MANAGEDTO SERVE JUST ON 50 000 PEOPLE THISYEAR

Drug dealing suspect caught

Asuspecteddrugdealerwas arrested in ImizamoYethu on Sunday 7June following atargetedoperation by City LawEnforcement officers.

AccordingtoWard74councillorRoberto Quintas, officers conducteda stingoperation in thecommunity on Sunday morning, resulting in thearrest of aSouth Africannationalon chargesofdealing in drugs.

During theoperation,officers seized 20 bankiesofcocaine,13bankies of tik, 14 quarter Mandraxtablets,seven half Mandraxtablets andtwo fullMandrax tablets.

Lawenforcement officialsalsoconfiscated

FROMPAGE1

Moving between communities gave himanearly andhonestviewofCapeTown’scontrasts “Movingbetween areasexposed me to very differentcommunities,perspectives, andrealities, whichmadememoreaware of both the diversityand theinequalitiesthatexist across Cape Town,” he says

Hout Bay, he says,bringsthose contrastsinto sharpfocus

“You seeverydifferentlived experiencesside by side,which reinforces theimportanceof empathy, connection, andcreatingmoreequal access to opportunities.”

Outsideschool andthe councilchamber, Pierce volunteersregularly at homeless shelters andsoupkitchensand is involved with conservationgroupsworking on environmental challenges —causeshesaysreflectthe values he hasbuilt hisleadershiparound.

WHYTHEJCC?

ForPierce, thedecisiontojointhe Junior City Councilcamedowntoone thing: real impact “WhenI firstlooked into it,I sawthe tangible impact previous membershad made,and that made it feel real,” he says “I’vealwaysbelievedthatleadershipshould be aboutservice,and theJCC felt like aspace whereI couldactivelycontributetomycommunity whilealsolearningfromotherswho care just as much.”

As Junior ExecutiveMayor,heisclear that therolecarries weight beyond atitle “It’sabout making sure that when Ispeak,I’m notspeakingfor myself,but fora broadergroup of voices that oftenaren’theard,” he says

BIGPLANSFORTHECOUNCIL

Pierce arriveswitha fullagenda. His first priority is getting to know everycouncillorindividually —understanding what they care about andhelping them bringtheir ideastolife. From there, he wantstobuild thecouncil’spublicpresence, includinga centralJCC

DRUG DEALING FUELS ADDICTION AND CONTRIBUTESTOBROADER SOCIAL CHALLENGES

cash amountingtoR2330

Quintaspraised theofficers involved in the operationand theirefforts to combat crimein thearea.

“Wesaluteour menand womeninblue, who puttheir livesonthe line to take thosewho poisonour communitiesoff ourstreets,”hesaid. He addedthatdrugdealing fuels addiction andcontributes to broadersocialchallenges within communities

“Whenpeoplepeddledrugs in theirown communities,theyare peddlingaddiction, planting theseedsofcrime,and nurturinga cultureofabuse,assaultand harm that leave many families watching theirloved ones being transformedintostrangers,” said Quintas.

Community policing forum(CPF) of Hout Baywas contactedfor comment on Theimpact drug dealingishavingonthe ImizamoYethu community andwhether community members have raised concerns aboutdrug-relatedcrime in thearea. Comment wasnot availble at thetimeof publication.

website, aweekly newsletter, andanexpanded social mediapresence, with aTikTokplatform specifically aimedatreachingyoung people

He also hashis eyeonhands-oncommunity work,planning aJCC volunteer dayand a charityevent to ensure thecouncil’s impact is felt beyond meetingrooms

“Mygoalistocreatea councilthatismore connected,moreaccessible, andmoreaction-driven— whereevery councillorfeels supported andevery idea hasthe potentialto become somethingreal,”hesays.

JUGGLINGSCHOOLANDTHECOUNCIL

Managing amayoral role alongsidehis studies is no smalltaskfor anyteenager.Piercesays thekey is beingintentional with time and knowinghedoesnot have to do it allalone

“Leadershipisn’t somethingyou do alone.

Having that support system makesitpossible to manage both effectively,” he says

Thelessons Pierce hasgatheredinleadership so farare grounded andpractical

“Leadershipislessabout having theright answersand more aboutaskingthe right questionsand listening. It’s aboutconsistency,showing up,following through, andbeing someonepeoplecan rely on,” he says

Hispersonalphilosophyisjustasstraightforward

“Leadershipisservice.Ifthe work you’re doingisn’t benefiting others or creating some form of positive change,thenitloses itspurpose.”

AMESSAGEFORYOUTHMONTH

Pierce’s message to youngCapetonians this June is simple:donot wait

“Yourvoice matters now. Youdon’t need to wait to be older, more experienced, or to have atitle to make adifference,” he says.“Real change doesn’tstart with authority, it starts with people whocareenoughtostepupand followthrough.” If he couldchangeone thing foryoung people in Hout Bayright now, he says it wouldbeaccess to educationalresources, extracurricularprogrammesand mentorship

“There is so much potentialinHoutBay,but noteveryonehas thesameaccess to developit. Creating more equalaccess wouldhavea longterm impact notjustonindividuals,but on the community as awhole,” he says

ForPierce, that is what YouthMonth should really be about, notjustcelebrating youngpeople, butmakingsureevery oneofthemhas the chance to rise.The Junior City Councilgives youngpeoplea

Younglearner’squest

KEANANHARMSE

At just 17 yearsold,Westlakelearner Diego Corneliusisalready emerging as astrongyouth voiceinhis school andcommunity,balancing an impressive list of leadership roleswhile building agrowing youthdevelopment initiative aimedatempoweringothers.

TheGrade 12 learneratNormanHenshilwood High School says hisjourney beganwhenhe wasintroducedtothe PrescientFoundation ScholarshipProgramme (PFSP) in Grade7

PFSP is ayouth initiative launched in 2018 to provideacademicand sports scholarships, paired with mentorship,for high-potential learners from Grade7 to 12 Thescholarship's message he firstencountered— "You areMadefor More"— hassince become aguiding belief in hislife. GrowingupinWestlake, he says,shapedboth hisresilienceand hiscommitmenttogiving back "Itshowedmethe challenges people face,but also thepotential that exists in ourcommunities.Thatinspiredmetobecomepartofthe solution."

ForDiego,the scholarshipwas notonly financial support, buta turningpoint that introduced himtomentorship, guidance andthe belief that hiscircumstances wouldnot define hisfuture.

"I'm aGrade 12 learnerand thefounder of the RaisingLeaders of Tomorrow Foundation," he explained.

"A majorturning pointinmylifewas receivinga scholarshipthrough thePrescient Foundation

"Their support, mentorship andbeliefinme opened doorsthathelpedshape theleaderI am today."

Today, Diegoholds multiple leadership positionsathis school

He serves as Deputy chairofhis school's Representative CouncilofLearners(RCL),sits on theSchool GoverningBody(SGB),and leads severalstudent platforms, includingHeadof theDebateSociety,President of theInteract Club,Headofthe MediaCentreAssistants, Director of theNormies Podcast, andDeputy Head of theChristian Union.

He hasalsobeen selected forthe City of Cape Town's Junior City Council.

Despitethese achievements,Diego is clear that leadership is notabout titles or recognition.

"One of thebiggest challenges I've facedasa leader is balancingambitionwithimpact,"he said

"Early on,I measured success by numbers— howmanypeopleattended an eventorhow big aproject was. ButI'velearned that leadership isn'tabout quantity,it'sabout quality."

He explainedthatrealleadershipmeans focusing on transformation rather than attendance.

"I wouldratherhave10young people whoare seriousabout change than 100who don'tapply what they'velearned.OnceI shiftedmyfocus to meaningful impact,I became amoreeffective leader."

That mindsetinspiredhim to recently establish theRaising LeadersofTomorrowFoundation whilestill at school.The idea wasborn afterhehosteda youthtalentevent following a

PrescientYouth DayChallengewin

"Thatexperiencechanged everything forme," Diegosaid.

"Itshowedmehow many youngpeoplejust need achance— to be seen,tobeheard,and to realisetheir potential."

Thefoundationfocuses on leadership development, mentorship,career exposure and community engagement

Diegosaidthe most rewardingpartisnot the scaleofprojects, butthe personal growth he sees in others

"The impact I'mmostproud of is seeing young people grow in confidenceand begintobelieve in themselves," he said

"Whether it's someoneleading forthe first time or discoveringa talent they didn't know they had, thosemoments mattermost."

DiegobelievesSouth Africa must invest more in youthdevelopment,education,entrepreneurship,sports, arts andmentorship.

"There is so much untappedpotential," he says."Many youngpeoplehavegifts and dreams that neverget theopportunitytogrow. That shouldn'tbethe reality."

He also creditsmentorship, particularly his relationship with PrescientFoundationmentor Ruan Yacumakis, as keytohis growth "Ruanhas taught me theimportanceofturningdreamsintoplans.Heasksthe hard questionsand helpsmemakeideas real," he says Askedwhatadvicehewould give hisyounger self,Diego said:"Iwould tell himtobelieve in himself, to know he belongsinevery room he enters,and that hisbackgrounddoesnot determine hisfuture."

To otheryoung people,his message is simple but firm:"Whereyou come from doesn'tdeterminewhere you're going. Keep showingup, keep learning,and don'tlet your circumstances define your future."

ForDiego,leadershipisultimatelyabout service.And throughhis work,hehopes to builda generation of youngpeoplewho believetheyare made formore— andact on it

Youth asked to register and vote

The SouthAfrican LocalGovernment Association(Salga) is urging young people to turn YouthMonth into action by registeringtovoteand taking ownershipoftheir future in this year’s localgovernmentelection.

Salgasaidwithvoter apathy rising andtrust in democratic participationunder strain,the upcoming voterregistrationweekend on Saturday 20 andSunday21Juneisa crucialchancetoget on theroll, update details, andstepbackinto thedemocraticprocess that shapes everyday life

Accordingtoa recent Public OpinionResearch by Government Communication andInformation System (GCIS),South Africa approaches this year’s localgovernmentelectionamid “entrenchedpublicpessimism andactive democratic disengagement”,asthe public lose motivation forparticipating in voting

Thestudy says 62%ofunregisteredvoters have no intentionofregistering to vote,with only 38%ofunregisteredrespondents saying they areopentoregistration.

SalgaYouth Commission chairLucky Sele said:“What is worryingisthe fact that over 60%ofnon-registeredyouth aged 18–34donot

OVER 60% OF NONREGISTERED YOUTH AGED

18–34 DO NOTINTEND TO REGISTER

intend to register,representingmillionsofpotential first-time or second-timevotersabsent from therolls.”

TheIndependent ElectoralCommission (IEC) recently unveiled itscampaignfor this year’s

localgovernmentelectionunder themessage “Get Up,ShowUp, Vote”which hasidentified youngpeopleasa priority audience in efforts to strengthen democratic participation. Salgabelievesthatlocal democracywillonly be strengthened when youngpeoplechooseto participateactivelyinshaping thecouncils, prioritiesand decisionsthataffecttheir dailylives “Young people cannotaffordtobeabsent from decisionsthataffectjobs, servicedelivery, accountability andthe futureoftheir communities,” concludedSele.

This year’s election will be held on Wednesday4 November.

Newchallenges,samedetermination:Youthreflectsonfuture

As SouthAfricacommemoratesYouth Day today(16 June), questionsremainabout the role,ambitionand activism of today’syoung people.While theyouth of 1976 arerememberedfor theircourage anddetermination in the fightagainst apartheid, some oldergenerationsbelieve today’syouth arelessdrivenand committedtosocialchange.

To explorethese perceptions, People’s Post askedyoung people whethertheybelieve their generation is unfairly judged,and invitedolder SouthAfricanstoshare theirviews on whether today’syouth arelessambitious or simply navigating adifferentset of challenges and opportunities.

. LorinMitchell said shehas respect forthe youthof1976because they “put their livesonthe line”for abetterfuturefor today’s generation “I don’tthink my generation necessarily lacks drive; we’rejust fighting completely different battles.Backthen, theenemy wasclear and rightinfront of them.Today,we’re dealingwith amassive surgeofunemployment, thecost of living is waymoreexpensive,and trying to breakintoa worldthatfeelsstacked againstus economically andstill trying to become ourown person whilenavigatingthrough life.Ittakes a differentkindofgrittokeeppushing forward when thefuturefeels this uncertain. We’restill driven to change things;we’re just trying to survivethe system we inherited first.”

. Shanaas Johnson said:“We aregrowing up with differenttoolsand pressures, student debt,housing costs, weak economy, social media. Idon’t thinkweare less driven.I think thebattlefieldchanged andit’smoredifficult to have things like jobsecurityand buying a house. So,I’d say: notlesscommitted, just committeddifferently.”

. Joanne Meyer said:“Idon’t thinkitis aboutbeing more or less ambitious, butrather that theambitiontoday maylook different. It canbeseen as less collectiveand more individual. Many youngpeopleare highly motivated

andare making deliberate decisionsabouttheir future- prioritising development, stabilityand wellnessand leveraging technology.Young peopleare seekingsustainable growth,meaningful work andcareer/lifebalance andintegration Theirambitionisverymuchpresent.”

. AaminahMuhamud said:“Ithink this idea comesfromcomparing twoverydifferent realities, anditdoesn’t tell thefullstory.The youthof1976foughtina visibleand united way, whiletoday’s youthfacechallenges like unemployment,inequality,and limited opportunities. Young people todayare still driven andhungry forsuccess. Many are eagertofurther their educationand build skills,but they don’t always have access to theopportunities they need.I thinkit’s nota lack of commitment, butoften a lack of opportunity. Theresilienceisstill there, andwiththe right support,theycan create meaningful change.”

Thespiritofyouth activism is stillalive,it simply looksdifferenttoday.It’sall aboutperspective,and it begins with parenting, whereby parentsare failingtoteach theirchildren (teens) howtogrow. Idon’t believetoday’s youthare less driven than theyouth of 1976 Thedifference is that we face differentchallenges.Manyyoung people arepassionateabout creating change,but they arealsoaffectedby issues such as unemployment,poverty,crime, substanceabuse,and negative influences within some communities.”

. Judith Baxolile Gwala said:“They are ambitiousbut in differentwayscause they do theirthingsindifferentways, butifyou look at what they are fighting for, they also want freedom andtobeheard ,and if they arenot listened to they find away of fighting forwhat thinktheyare deserving, howdothey fight they wouldblock somethings that they know it will make whoeverisincharge. They stillforce things.”

. KwakhanyaZweni said:“Ibelieve today’syouth arejustasdrivenasthe youthof 1976.Wefacedifferentchallenges,but we are stillpassionateabout creating change.Weuse differenttools, such as technology andsocial media, to raiseawareness, supportour communities,and fightfor abetterfuture.

. Joslau Baron said:“Ithink that today’syouth maynot be ‘lessdriven’,but we definitely have it alot easier than theyouth of 1976.Thatwas during theyears of apartheid. Andthatwas acompletelydifferenttime. Thereweredifferent rulesand expectations from certainpeople. Youth, especially youth of colour,wereforcedto fightand even diein thenameofchange. They hadtofacediscriminationand mistreatment.Theydidn’thave access to theopportunitiesand lifestyles of the whitecommunity

“There weren’tthatmanyjobsand different ways of income like thereistoday.Peoplewere forced to work in ordertosurvive.Young or old, they were focusedonsurvivaland freedom.So, do Ithink we arelessdriven? Yesand no.But only becausethe youthofthattimefoughtfor theyouth of ourtime. They shed theirblood, sweatand tears.

Forustohaveaccess to opportunities, freedom, andchangethattheywerebannedfrom most of theirlives.The youthoftoday still have battles to fightsure. Butwedon’t have to paywithblood.And ourvoicesare more easily heard.

“The youthof1976foughtharderand hada heavierprice to paythanwhatwehave. We are less driven if youcompare us to 1976.But that’s only becausenot even half of what they hadto do,isexpectedorneeded from us.”

. Kian Jordaan said:“Idon’t thinkit’sfair to sayyoung people todayare less driven than theyouth of 1976.Backthen, theyouth were fighting apartheidand standing up againstvery clearand seriousinjustice,which took alot of bravery. Today’syouth deal with differentproblems,and they also show theirdrive in different ways Alot of it happens throughsocialmedia, community action,and speaking outonissues they care about. It mightnot always look the same as protests in thepast, butthatdoesn’t mean there’slesscommitment. In theend,each generation responds to thechallenges of itsown time,and both have shownthatyoung people canpushfor change.”

. Ambervan Rhyn said:“Idon’t think youngpeopletoday arelessdriventhanthe youthof1976. Thechallenges aredifferent, but thedesirefor change is stillthere

Theyouth of 1976 fought forpolitical freedom andequal education, whiletoday’s youthare tackling issues like unemployment,mental health,inequality, climatechange, andaccess to opportunities.”

Everygenerationexpressesits activism in ways that reflectthe timestheylivein.

. ChristineKaye said:“Idon’t thinkambition is somethingthatbelongs to onegeneration or another. Everygenerationhas people whoare driven to make adifference Theyouth of 1976 facedverydifferentchallenges to thoseyoung people face today, and theirresponsereflectedthe timestheylived in Today’syouth aresimplygrowing up in a differentworld with differentchallenges and opportunities.

Everygenerationhas people whowantto create change,and hopefully each generation leaves things betterfor thenext.”

COLLEGIANSFLYTO DRUBBINGOVERRFC

Samieravan Rooyen of CollegiansRugby FootballClub(RFC) acrobatically dots down herteam’sthirdtry leaving Ameera DanielsofRocklands RFCasamerespectatorduring aWestern ProvinceRugby Union (WPRU)Super League match playedatthe Rocklands Sports groundsonSaturday 13 June.Collegians wonthe Mitchells plain derby19-0 PHOTO:RASHIED ISAACS