IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YOUTH ELECTIONS EVENT
#Yenza Ushintsho Lwakho – Make the Change
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 26 June 2026 – Planact will convene young adults tomorrow, Saturday, 27 June 2026, from communities across the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni for a dialogue on the role of young people in strengthening democracy and driving positive change in their communities, ahead of November’s local government elections. The event will take place from 09:00 to 13:00 at 25 Owl Street, Braamfontein Werf. The initiative aims to bring together young people aged 18–25 to foster active citizenship, democratic participation, and informed voter engagement.
The event will highlight the importance of elections as central to building a vibrant democracy and the
critical function that voting plays in enabling citizens to choose their leaders, influence government
decisions, and shape the future of their cities.
Recognising that young people have a vitally important role to play in shaping South Africa’s democratic future, the dialogue will explore how to strengthen young people’s interest and participation in the electoral process and encourage greater civic action, leadership and agency during and beyond the elections. Participants will discuss practical actions young people can take to become active citizens who help bring about the change they want to see in their communities, cities and towns.
Discussions will focus on key questions, including:
What kind of cities do young people want to help build?
What are the issues that matter most to them?
Which issues should feature more prominently on the election campaign trail?
Beyond voting, what actions can young people take to strengthen democracy and improve governance in their communities?
The event seeks to amplify the voices of young people and contribute to a broader conversation about
more transparent and inclusive governance, accountable leadership and active citizenship, recognising that meaningful democratic participation extends far beyond the ballot box.
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About Planact
Planact is a non-profit organisation established in 1985 as a voluntary association of professionals, dedicated to eliminating the exclusion of vulnerable communities from local government processes. To achieve this, Planact promotes municipal accountability to communities and advocates for the inclusion of vulnerablegroups in local government policies, processes, and practices.