Adolescents in a multiracial democratic South Africa.

Abstract

There is now a new South Africa for all adolescents where there is no need to fight against each other on ideological grounds. In diversity and constitutionally, they are united and making a valuable contribution to the building of one nation for all South Africans. Adolescents are involved In politics both in informal and formal settings. Some of the debates they engage in are so robust that they sway the views of those who are more seasoned in matters of politics. Some politicians win leadership positions as a direct result of being backed by adolescents. It was partly in view of this that the first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, stated: “The youth of our country is a valued possession of our nation. Their needs are immense and urgent. They are at the center of reconstruction and development program. Without them, there can be no future” South Africa commands the strongest and most efficient and prosperous economy in Africa; its status in Africa is similar to that of the United States of America in relation to other Western Countries. With such a prosperous and promising country, South African adolescents of all races have nothing to fear for their futures except fear itself. All the countries sharing common borders with South Africa are socially, economically, and educationally less developed than South Africa. Therefore South Africa is viewed as a land of opportunity.