Slow Down Youth of South Africa!

Are we in such a rush as youth of South Africa, or are we just moving with the times...

I love the 21st century era! We see more educated youth across all races, great business opportunities, hungry and dedicated men, independent women, social networks, internet, instant foods, rights and rights and more rights!

The world is becoming a circus. Almost like different music is playing at the same time and people are dancing to their own favourite tunes. All good and well for our evident success however, it’s concerning how we value life in the process. We are in such an adrenaline rush to a point where we achieve a five year’s work in six months! We sometimes forget that there were also achievers before our generation. The difference between us and them is that they understood the value of a marathon opposed to that of a sprinter. They were driven by long-term goals and we are driven by money, status and possessions.

Over the Easter Holidays I was at a gathering where (in my fashion) I got a couple of young-middle aged men talking. I obviously wanted to understand the logic of our fellow youth, their aspirations and long-term goals. I gathered that our youth is incredibly ambitious such that by age 38 they already are married, have kids, huge houses, successful businesses and all the expensive toys. I also figured that beyond it all there is little to non ambition thereafter; life is just a game and a hollow adventure. In all fairness, what else would you be interested in doing when you have it all at 38! With another 22yrs to retirement, you will be travelling, experimenting with things and people. We have a growing number of successful men in our country who just ‘turned’ bisexual. These people either have too much time or too much money at their disposal. They have it all, done it all, seen it all and the only thing bringing excitement in their lives is wild adventure.

Women on the other hand are on their own quest to be equalled, successful, self-sufficient, recognised and listened to. I just loved the sound of my keyboard when I typed that because I too fall into that category. However, like men the majority of us are running a sprinter with a blind fold. In a space of 5yrs (in no particular order) we work and get high corporate positions or even our own businesses, date, marry, have kids, divorce, re-date and live-in with younger men or just turn into lesbians.

Teenagers by age 20, they have long-lost their virginity, have at least 2 kids and on a mission to be successful and be recognised with no particular long-term goals. Having one partner as a boyfriend is taboo in our times! A drink from a stranger at a bar confirms a date and even a sexual encounter the same night. Every chance we get we complain about the unfaithful behaviours of our men forgetting that we are the ones holding the keys. I don’t think men even recall how to propose a lady. It is way too easy for them to touch us, and getting under our skirts is worth a Jimmy choo heels (even a cell phone airtime) which is not even half a quarter of his bank account.

Getting married is becoming a fashion too; it’s a matter of who can afford to. Seemingly no one realizes the value of marriage and the consequences of making that decision. It is like we have created a life checklist, we want to experience everything just to tick it off and go to the next. I was shocked when I heard that a couple that got married in Dec 2010 have divorced in March this year. This is unheard of!

I strongly believe that the government and media of our country have a huge influence on this issue and any other motivational challenge facing our youth. We hear and read more about the success of role models in our country and less about the critical values our celebrities and key leaders have. Values may not do anything for the growth of the country’s economy perhaps, but they sure can decrease the growing rate of HIV and AIDS deaths in our youth. They can reduce the number of high school drop-outs caused by teenage pregnancies. In my opinion, I think it’s a short-sighted decision for government to rather allow pregnant teenagers to carry on with school than finding ways to have a moral society. I salute the Zulu community that is still holding on to values such as ukuhlolwa kwentombi. People have varying opinions about this and it’s a touching matter but in my experience; nothing good has ever been popular.

We need to see more of successful people with strong values to hold influential positions. Our television screens need to show less of controversial immoral people. The youth needs to understand that if you carry yourself in a particular manner – you will not be seen on TV, heard on the radio nor read of on magazines. Our youth believes that controversial stories sell magazines & newspapers, so why bother being ethical because no one is interested in that.

By all means this article is not taking anything away from the individuals who are successful and possess great values for our society. There are great role models out there and we need to hear more of them. The youth of South Africa needs to slow down! We suppose to bury our parents and not the other way around. Success is good and we all want it but life is meaningless without values. An immoral society is a dying society. Our country has won a racial struggle and now we have a duty to fight a struggle of a corrupt society.


Until next time!



Tamara Booi