Speeches

Keynote Address by the Hon Andries Nel, MP, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at the Youth and Constitution Dialogue held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg, 19 June 2026

Programme Director, Mthembeni Mzobe,
Ms Kululiwe Sithole from the South African Human Rights Commission,
Ms Moagisi Letlhaku from the Independent Electoral Commission,
Ms Katlego Sekoati from WeThePeople,
Ms Mbali Baduza, the CEO of WeThePeople,
Mr Thembalethu Seyisi from the Centre for Social Justice: Stellenbosch University,
Ms Oamogetswe Chikwado from the Black Girls Caucus,
Mr Thabo Ndabeni and Mr Lennox Klaas, from the Youth of 1976,
Ms Senzi Malaza from COGTA,
Ms Sihle Shabalala from the National Youth Development Agency,
The Commission for Gender Equality, as represented by Mr J Baloyi,
The Guardians of Democracy organized by WeThePeople,
70 youth from various universities and members of BLA,
30 young people from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,
Good morning.

We meet during Youth Month and in a year in which South Africa celebrates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution.
This milestone is being commemorated under the theme: “One Constitution, One Nation: Reflect. Renew. Recommit.”
The Preamble to the Constitution that we recited reminds us of who we are as a nation and of the values that unite us.

It reminds us that our Constitution is not merely a legal document.
It is a national covenant.
It is a commitment to dignity, equality, freedom, social justice, accountability, and democratic participation.

Today, as we commemorate both the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, we honour the courage of the young people who changed the course of our history.
The youth of 1976 stood up against injustice and demanded dignity, equality, and a voice in determining their future.
Their struggle was about far more than language policy.
It was about freedom, opportunity, and human dignity.
Their sacrifices helped create the democratic South Africa that we enjoy today and laid the foundation for the Constitution that protects our rights and freedoms.

But commemoration alone is not enough.
The question before us is this: What does the Constitution mean for young people in South Africa today?
For many young South Africans, constitutional rights can sometimes seem distant from daily realities.
When a young person cannot find work despite years of study and effort, the promise of dignity feels incomplete.
When a young woman fears violence on her way to school, university, or work, the promise of freedom and security feels under threat.
When young people lose faith in public institutions because of corruption, poor governance, or unfulfilled promises, democracy itself is weakened.
When access to quality education, digital connectivity, housing, healthcare, and economic opportunities remains unequal, many young people understandably ask whether the constitutional promise is being realised.
These concerns are real.
They must be acknowledged honestly.

Youth unemployment remains one of the greatest challenges facing our country.
Millions of young South Africans are seeking opportunities to contribute to society, support their families, and build meaningful lives.
At the same time, many face barriers arising from poverty, inequality, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven access to quality education and skills development.

Crime and violence continue to affect communities across our country.
Gender-based violence and femicide remain among the gravest threats to human dignity and equality.
Many young people are also dealing with growing pressures relating to mental health, social isolation, substance abuse, and uncertainty about the future.
These challenges should concern all of us.

Yet they should not lead us to abandon democracy or lose faith in our constitutional project.
Rather, they should inspire us to make democracy work better.
The Constitution was never intended to be a guarantee that problems would disappear overnight.
It was intended to provide the framework through which South Africans could work together to address those problems peacefully, democratically, and collectively.

The Constitution gives young people powerful tools.
It protects your right to education.
It protects your right to freedom of expression.
It protects your right to organise, protest peacefully, and advocate for change.
It protects your right to vote.
It protects your right to hold those in positions of power accountable.
Most importantly, it recognises you not merely as beneficiaries of democracy, but as active participants in shaping it.
That is why active citizenship matters.
Democracy is not something that happens to us every five years. Democracy is something we do.
It is participating in community meetings.
It is serving in student leadership structures.
It is volunteering in our communities.
It is engaging constructively on social media.
It is challenging misinformation.
It is standing against racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, corruption, and intolerance wherever they appear.
And yes, it is voting.

Later this year, South Africans will participate in local government elections.
These elections matter because local government is the sphere of government closest to people’s daily lives.
Municipalities are responsible for many of the services that affect communities directly: water, sanitation, roads, refuse removal, local economic development, and community facilities.

The decisions taken in municipalities affect the quality of life of millions of South Africans, especially young people.
Yet recent research indicates declining levels of trust in democratic institutions and increasing political disengagement, particularly among younger citizens.
Many young people are asking difficult questions.
Does my vote matter?
Will things change?
Are leaders listening?
These questions deserve answers.

But withdrawing from democracy is not the solution.
If young people disengage, others will make decisions on their behalf.
If young people do not participate, their voices will not be heard.
The answer to imperfect democracy is not less democracy. It is more participation, more accountability, and more active citizenship.
I therefore urge every eligible young person to register and vote.
Your vote is your voice.
Your vote is your power.
Your vote is your stake in the future of your community and your country.

I am particularly encouraged by initiatives such as WeThePeople SA’s Guardians of Democracy programme, which empowers young people to educate others about the Constitution and democratic participation.
Building constitutional literacy is not an academic exercise. It is essential to building an active, informed, and engaged citizenry.
A democracy cannot thrive if its citizens do not understand their rights and responsibilities.
Today’s dialogue also brings together two generations of South Africans: those who fought for freedom and those who have inherited that freedom.

The generation of 1976 carries the lessons of struggle, sacrifice, and resilience.
The generation of 2026 brings fresh perspectives, innovation, technological skills, and new ideas about how to build a more just society.
Our task is not to compare these generations.
Our task is to learn from one another.
The struggle of 1976 was for freedom.
The challenge of 2026 is to deepen that freedom and ensure that it is reflected in people’s daily lives.

As we commemorate Youth Month under the theme “50 Years of Youth Courage, Freedom and the Right to Vote”, let us recommit ourselves to building a South Africa in which every young person can realise their full potential.
A South Africa in which no young person is denied opportunity because of poverty.
A South Africa in which women and girls can live free from fear.
A South Africa in which public institutions earn the trust of the people.
A South Africa in which every young person knows that their voice matters.

The Constitution is ultimately a promise.
A promise of dignity.
A promise of equality.
A promise of freedom.
A promise of opportunity.

Whether that promise is fulfilled depends not only on government, but on all of us.
The youth of 1976 showed us that courage can change history.
The youth of 2026 must show us that participation can shape the future.
Let us reflect.
Let us renew.
Let us recommit.

Much of what I have said has been said better by a veteran of our struggle, Mac Maharaj during an intergenerational dialogue hosted by the ANC Veterans League to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the June 16 uprising.

I conclude with his words:

„The problems we face are not because the Constitution has failed us. Rather, we have failed our Constitution.

We have allowed reconstruction, reconciliation and nation-building to be the domain of those we elect, whereas it gives us the space to move our country forward on the basis of participatory democracy.

Our democracy was never intended to reduce citizens to spectators.

It was never intended that people should vote every five years and then retreat from public life.

The vision that animated our struggle was one of active citizenship.

The people were not expected merely to elect leaders.

They were expected to remain participants in shaping society.

Democracy is strongest when citizens organise themselves and weakest when they surrender responsibility to others.

Our march to freedom has taught us that it is the people who make history and that leaders are servants of the people.

Our history leaves no doubt that young people can rise to that challenge.

The youth of 1912 inherited a divided people.

The youth of 1944 inherited a frustrated people.

The youth of 1976 inherited a silenced people.

The youth of 1994 inherited a democratic South Africa.

The youth of today inherit a nation that remains unfinished.

Their task is not to repeat the past. Their task is to learn from it.

Their task is to imagine a future equal to the sacrifices of those who came before them.

The future will not be built by one generation acting alone.

It will be built through dialogue.

Leadership emerges through a conversation - sometimes cooperative, sometimes argumentative - between generations.

It will be built through participation.

It will be built through shared responsibility.

It will be built by citizens who understand that the people make history and that leaders are servants of the people.

That is the enduring lesson of our struggle.

And that is the challenge before us today.”

I thank you.