South African Youth Research Articles

Entrepreneurship interventions and the intentions of South African youths to start own business

Entrepreneurship interventions and the intentions of South African youths to start own business

Subclinical Myocardial Fibrosis in South African Youth With HIV: Results From the CTAAC-Heart Study

Abstract Background Few data exist on myocardial fibrosis and inflammation in youth with HIV. Methods We performed cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) on a cross section of South African youth: youth with perinatally acquired HIV (YPHIV) undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), youth with nonperinatally acquired HIV (YNPHIV) receiving ART, and youth without HIV. Quantile regression models were fit to assess the association between HIV status and CMR outcomes: subclinical fibrosis (late gadolinium enhancement [LGE] mass and fraction, native T1, extracellular volume) and inflammation (native T1, T2 mapping). Results Of 464 youth, 287 were YPHIV, 87 were YNPHIV, and 90 were HIV seronegative. The median age was 16 years (range, 11–24). LGE mass was higher in YPHIV and YNPHIV than in youth who were HIV seronegative (1.85 vs 2.00 vs 1.41 g, respectively), as was fraction (5.8% vs 6.4% vs 4.5%); native T1 was highest in YNPHIV. In adjusted analyses, when compared with youth with HIV seronegativity, YPHIV and YNPHIV exhibited higher LGE mass (β = 0.468, P = .001; β = 0.544, P = .002) and LGE fraction (β = 1.587, P < .001; β = 1.781, P < .001). CMR outcomes were similar between YPHIV and YNPHIV. Conclusions Despite ART use, YPHIV and YNPHIV appear to have higher subclinical myocardial fibrosis than youth who are HIV seronegative and healthy adults in South Africa and may benefit from early screening/monitoring for cardiovascular disease.

Anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African youth soccer players.

This study comparatively investigates the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African players by age group, competitive level and playing position. The sample consisted of 201 youth soccer players drawn from six sports academies in South Africa. Players were subjected to standardized protocols for anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass and body fat percentage) and physical fitness tests (flexibility, vertical jump, push-ups, sit-ups, muscle strength, agility, 30-m sprint and V̇O<inf>2max</inf>). A series of two-way analyses of variance was performed to determine the interactions between playing position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or attacker) or age group (13, under-15, under-17 or under-19) and competitive level (elite or non-elite). The results show significant interaction effects of agility, body fat percentage and sprint speed between the players' competitive levels and age group (P<0.05). No interaction effect was found between playing position and competitive level in any anthropometric or physical fitness variable (P>0.05). However, playing position exhibited significant main effects in the youth players' aerobic endurance and body mass (P<0.05). The results provide practical implications for tailoring position-specific conditioning regimes that optimize effective soccer performance.

Folklore and Sexuality Education: A Review of the Pedagogical Value of “Tselane le Dimo”

South African youths experience high rates of HIV infections and unintended pregnancies. In an effort to mitigate these challenges, the Department of Basic Education introduced Comprehensive Sexuality Education in its syllabus with an intention to equip learners with the necessary skills to manage their sexual behaviours. Despite this intervention, educators in the townships have been reluctant to teach this topic. Teachers’ reluctance is informed by cultural and religious sensitivities towards discussing sexual topics with minors. This article proposes that the reluctance towards teaching sexual education topics can be managed by relying on alternative methodologies of knowledge impartment. Since time immemorial, African societies have used folktales to impart knowledge between generations. We use a functional approach to evaluate the pedagogical value of “Tselane Le Dimo” in teaching sexuality education. We are conscious of the fact that the folktale does not contain explicit references to sex, but we argue through a sociological evaluation that the language used in the folktale references sex when it is viewed through the lens of colloquial language that is commonly used by youth. This article employs a qualitative approach in the evaluation of the pedagogical value of the folktale “Tselane le Dimo.” An interpretive phenomenological analysis is used to analyse the folktale. We use this analysis approach with the view that this folktale can be used as a tool for making sense of lived experiences. The findings indicate that words used in this folktale carry euphemistic value, which makes it possible to make references to sexual activities without being blunt about it.

The impact of entrepreneurial alertness on the performance of youth-owned enterprises

Background: A lack of profitability attributes to 23% of business failures, which in turn, stems from young entrepreneurs’ inability to recognise and discover profitable business opportunities. Enhancing entrepreneurial alertness (EA) can play a crucial role in identifying and evaluating lucrative business prospects.Aim: The aim of this paper is to examine how entrepreneurial alertness (EA) impacts the business performance of youth-owned enterprises in South Africa.Setting: The paper focussed on registered and unregistered youth-owned businesses operating in various sectors in South Africa.Methods: This study was conducted by distributing self-administered questionnaires to youth entrepreneurs who run registered and unregistered businesses. A quantitative research approach was adopted using simple random sampling to collect primary data. A sample size of 126 youth entrepreneurs was attained, and multiple regression was used to test the study hypotheses.Results: Entrepreneurial alertness measured using evaluation and judgement dimensions were found to have a direct impact on enterprise profitability and subsequently lead to overall enterprise performance. The results further showed that scanning and search, and association and connection dimensions do not have an impact in any of the enterprise performance indicators.Conclusion: South African youth entrepreneurs do not associate alertness to enterprise performance when alertness is measured by scanning and search, and association and connection.Contribution: The study reveals that alertness measured by evaluation and judgment has an impact on enterprise performance and that alertness can be used to mitigate failures of youth-owned enterprises. The study recommends that business performance must be measured by innovativeness rather than profitability since alertness impacts innovativeness more.

‘Life became harder with COVID-19’: exploring the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district, South Africa

BackgroundIn South Africa, pervasive age and gender inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response. We aimed to explore experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth in eThekwini district, South Africa.MethodsBetween December 2021-May 2022 we explored experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth aged 16–24 residing in eThekwini, South Africa. We collated responses to the open-ended question “Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you in any other way you want to tell us about?” in an online survey focused on understanding the pandemic’s multi-levelled health and social effects. We used a thematic analysis to summarise the responses.ResultsOf 2,068 respondents, 256 (12.4%, median age = 22, 60.9% women) completed the open-ended survey question (11% in isiZulu). Results were organized into three main themes encompassing (1) COVID-19-related loss, fear, grief, and exacerbated mental and physical health concerns; (2) COVID-19-related intensified hardships, which contributed to financial, employment, food, education, and relationship insecurities for individuals and households; and (3) positive effects of the pandemic response, including the benefits of government policies and silver linings to government restrictions.ConclusionsWe found that South African youth experienced significant grief and multiple losses (e.g., death, income, job, and educational) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-aware interventions that provide economic and educational opportunities must be included in post-COVID recovery efforts.

Re-Framing (South) African Youth Ministry

Abstract Youth ministry, as understood in an African context, is predominantly informed, and guided by a Western/European philosophy and hegemony. African youth ministry, it seems, is struggling to break away from the hegemony of the developed world, a hegemony that is not always compatible with the developing world (Africa, in this instance) and that also fails to deal with its problems. There has been renewed energy shown by the youth on the African continent, calling for a decolonial conversation, which, ideally, should also include theology and youth ministry. The #feesmustfall and #rhodesmustfall campaigns in South Africa have proven that the youth in the developing world remain a dominant voice for justice and transformation in spheres controlled by the adult community, those who are traditionally in power and who hold a philosophy that is often vastly different from the youth and the world that they inhabit. In a sense, one can argue that the actions in the calling for justice and transformation of the youth are indeed prophetic. This article will argue that the youth from emerging nations, such as those in Africa, have the agency to make a profound difference in (public) areas where there is injustice, thus offering a message of hope. This means of agency amongst the youth in the public domain is an expression of how youth ministry should not restrict itself to the clerical and ecclesial domains, but also how they ought to act in the public domain in applying public practical theology. Furthermore, this article argues, as a public practical theology, there is a need to build a theological theory, which is local and distinct from the Western/European context, to further the prophetic actions of the youth. The twofold aim of this article will be achieved through a theoretical approach with reflections on contemporary actions of, particularly, South African youth.

The Covid-19 resilience journey of vulnerable young South Africans

Resilience, the ability to adapt well to adversity, is a critical factor in the well-being and success of young individuals. This study explored the multifaceted nature of resilience among South African youth challenged by COVID-related stressors and structural disadvantage. Specifically, this paper reports a follow-up qualitative leg of a sequential mixed-method design. Thirty-eight young adults (average age 24), all of whom reported high risk exposure but low depression symptoms, took part in semi-structured interviews to learn more about their resilience journey. Qualitative content analysis was employed to identify prominent themes. The study’s findings emphasize the dynamic nature of youth resilience, with individuals being buoyed by social network support (especially family); personal agency, structural support, and resource combinations. The qualitative findings contribute to the growing attention to the need for comprehensive policies and programs that recognize and enhance multisystemic sources of support, enabling young individuals to navigate challenges and thrive in their transition into adulthood.

My Journey in Researching Depression among Black People: Experiences of a Researcher in a Sensitive Study

The interest in qualitative research on mental health within Black communities is rapidly growing. However, there are still debates on the conceptualization of depression among the Black community. This paper focuses on the researcher’s experiences as a young Black South African experiencing depression, and their reflections on interpretivist qualitative research focused on the realities of Black South African youth experiencing depression. The paper highlights the importance of reflexivity in a qualitative study and how the topics researched by a Black South African experiencing depression which is still considered a taboo within some parts of the Black community. If a researcher is part of the population, it can be a disadvantage because they hold certain perceptions about this studied phenomenon based on their personal experiences. However, this paper argues that personal experiences and other intersecting social factors are important in research, especially on vulnerable and marginalized groups, to create more critical reflections in qualitative research.

Antecedents of youths who are not in employment, education or training: Micro-level evidence

Orientation: The increasing number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) is a concerning global trend.Research purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to young individuals being classified as NEET in South Africa.Motivation for the study: Given the rising NEET rates in South Africa and the potential loss of human capital, this study addresses a critical gap in understanding the drivers of youth unemployment and disengagement from education and/or training.Research approach/design and method: Employing cross-sectional data analysis techniques, the study used the Quarterly Labour Force Survey data with a sample of 14 338 youths aged 15–34 years from Statistics South Africa.Main findings: The study identified education level, race and age as significant predictors of NEET status. The research highlighted the role of social capital and geographical barriers in determining the NEET status of young individuals, with location and gender having an impact.Practical/managerial implications: The study’s findings have important implications for policymakers. Possible strategies can target the specific factors identified, such as improving access to education and training, addressing racial disparities and reducing gender-related barriers.Contribution/value-add: This study reveals the causes of NEET among South African youth. Policymakers can use this information to create targeted interventions, reduce the NEET population and promote socio-economic development. The research provides a valuable resource to guide efforts in reducing the NEET population and harnessing the potential of the country’s youth.

Family functioning and problematic usage of the internet in youth: A cross-sectional investigation

BackgroundProblematic usage of the internet (PUI) refers to maladaptive use of the Internet linked to functional impairment as a growing concern in many countries. Youths are often considered more vulnerable to PUI than other age groups. The relationship between PUI and family dynamics is likely bidirectional and complex, warranting further research. Using a cross-sectional study design, we aimed to determine the rate of PUI and the association between PUI and family functioning in a South African sample between the ages of 18 and 30 years. MethodsSouth African youths were recruited via email and social media. Respondents completed an online survey as part of a cross-sectional study to assess the extent and the types of activities for which they use the internet, as well as the quality of their family relationships and functioning, employing standardised questionnaires (including the IAT-10) and the General Functioning Scale of the Family Assessment Device (GF-FAD). The sample included 814 participants (65% female; aged 21 years; SD 3 years). Results15.5% of our sample presented with PUI. There was a significant, moderate positive correlation between totals on the IAT-10 and GF-FAD (r = 0.33, p < .001). An independent samples t-test found that individuals with self-reported PUI (GF-FAD: M = 2.57, SD = 0.51) had significantly poorer quality family functioning than individuals without PUI (GF-FAD: M = 2.13, SD = 0.61; t (812) = −7.52, p < .001; Cohen's d = −0.73, 95% CI [-0.92, −0.54]). Correlations were found between increased time spent on various online activities, including pornography (r = 0.20, p < 0.001), cyberbullying (r = 0.17, p < 0.001), social networking (r = 0.11, p = 0.003), and streaming media (r = 0.11, p = 0.003), and poorer quality family functioning. ConclusionPUI is common in South African youth. Presence of PUI and increased PUI severity were associated with worse family functioning in this sample. We recommend using family-based approaches in promoting a healthy family environment, and in the prevention of PUI and mitigation of its effects, with the goal of striking a balance between the benefits of the internet and its potential role in compromising aspects of family relationships.

YES: leading a Youth Employment Service towards increasing impact

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes for this case study are as follows: learning outcome 1: evaluate the environmental context of Youth Employment Service (YES) and ascertain whether YES is a social enterprise. Students will provide an analysis of what is happening around the business, and why addressing youth unemployment is an urgent matter to address; learning outcome 2: apply basic financial principles to evaluate the basic profit and loss statement of YES. In a business management class, students need to recognise the importance of applying basic financial principles to ensure the financial sustainability of a business. Therefore, the objective is for students to evaluate the basic profit and loss statement in the case’s exhibit. The focus is not necessarily on the numbers, but rather on the insight that students will gain into the organisation’s strengths and development areas; and learning outcome 3: create recommendations by considering the exploitation of existing opportunities and the exploration of new opportunities to innovate. Students should understand the principles of organisational ambidexterity and provide suggestions on how they can be used by organisations to reshape their desirable future. Case overview/synopsis On 31 March 2022, Leanne Emery Hunter, the chief operating officer of the YES, was considering how YES could increase their impact. Hunter considered how to convince more corporations to sponsor their efforts in creating work experiences for South African youth. In addition to exploiting these efforts that they were already involved with, YES could explore new opportunities to increase their impact, such as focusing on the community hubs and the innovative products they were developing. Expanding YES’s community hubs to serve as support to the youth would require a capital investment in technology and specific skills within the next six months. Hunter, therefore, faced the dilemma of managing the tensions between focusing on YES’s existing offering, which had a social impact, while paying attention to secure their future by focusing on the financial sustainability and expansion of YES. Its ceremonial inauguration in March 2018 was ushered by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, followed by its registration in October 2018. YES was challenged to look for new ways of creating a proactive growth strategy. YES had a social mission to address youth unemployment, students will, however, need to ascertain whether YES is a social enterprise. The case shares financial results and students have an opportunity to calculate profit and loss and offer recommendations on the financial viability of YES while fulfilling their social mission of contributing to youth employment. Students must give recommendations to resolve the dilemma of Hunter in managing the tension between their existing social impact and the future financial sustainability of the business. Complexity academic level The case is suitable for post-graduate courses in business management in business administration programmes. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurial role models’ influence on social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent, and social entrepreneurial action in South Africa: the moderating role of moral obligation

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how social entrepreneurial role models influence social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent and social entrepreneurial action, with moral obligation as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey of 261 pupils in the South African province of the Eastern Cape was used in the research study. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.FindingsThe research revealed that having social entrepreneurial role models has a positive impact on both social entrepreneurial self-efficacy and social entrepreneurial intent. In addition, a connection was found between social entrepreneurial intent and entrepreneurial action. The influence of moral obligation was found to be a positive and a significant moderator. Moreover, the association between social entrepreneurial role models and social entrepreneurial intent was mediated by social entrepreneurial self-efficacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are not generalizable to nonstudent samples because students constituted the sample for gathering data. Future study therefore requires considering nonstudents to generalize the outcomes. This research should be replicated in other South African provinces and other developing countries for comparative outcomes.Practical implicationsSince social entrepreneurial role models have been practically linked to social entrepreneurship intent and entrepreneurial efficacy, understanding the factors that influence student’s decision to start a social enterprise is critical in South Africa to develop targeted interventions aimed at encouraging young people to start new businesses. Policymakers, society and entrepreneurial education will all benefit from the findings.Originality/valueThis study contributes to bridging the knowledge gap as it investigates how social entrepreneurial role models influence social entrepreneurial self-efficacy, social entrepreneurial intent and social entrepreneurial action, with moral obligation as a moderator. Encouraging social entrepreneurship among South African youth would also help address societal issues. This is a pioneering study in the context of an emerging economy such as South Africa, where social entrepreneurship is so integral.

Development of the Talent Identification Questionnaire in Soccer for Outfield Players (TIDQ-OP): Coaches’ perceptions of the key attributes for player recruitment

ABSTRACT Talent identification in sports is a complex process, whereby the aim is to identify, select and promote players who are considered to have the necessary skills and competencies (e.g., technical, tactical, and physical attributes) to succeed in senior adult competition. To support this process, this study focused on the development of a questionnaire to assist in the identification of talent among South African youth soccer players. This will establish a measure of the attributes coaches consider important when making talent identification decisions for outfield soccer players. The questionnaire was constructed following established instrument development phases. In phase 1, 61 questionnaire items were generated based on a review of the relevant literature. In phase 2, a panel of experts examined the content validity of the preliminary items. In phase 3, the provisional 59-item questionnaire (Talent Identification Questionnaire in Soccer for Outfield Players; TIDQ-OP) was administered to 173 experienced South African soccer coaches (130 males and 43 females) who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years. In phase 3, the factorial structure of the questionnaire was established through principal component analysis. The final questionnaire consisted of 58 items. These preliminary analyses indicate the usefulness of the TIDQ-OP as a tool to assist South African coaches in the identification and selection of talented players.

Learning and institutional support for youth in higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa

IntroductionAs higher education institutions (HEIs) moved from in-person to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, various challenges were presented. Using a large online survey conducted during the pandemic, this paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 on learning and institutional support offered to students in HEIs in South Africa.MethodsThe study utilized a closed-ended questionnaire on a data-free online platform. The study sample included South African youth aged 18–35 years who were enrolled for some type of educational training or in higher education institutions (including private colleges). Data was benchmarked to the 2019 estimates of the youth population in educational institutions. Descriptive statistics are presented.ResultsAmong the 7011 student participants, the main challenges experienced during lockdown were loss of study time (57.9%), insufficient money for essential personal items for studying (55.8%), loss of social contact (42.2%) and insufficient money for food (40.1%). Overall, 47.0% of students reported having free access to the internet, 49.5% used personal internet or paid for internet access and 3.5% indicated having no access to internet. The majority rated their institution’s eLearning portal as good or excellent, and 23.4% thought their eLearning portal was of poor quality. Significantly fewer (38.1%) technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college students indicated that their institution provided the capacity to conduct virtual learning compared to those enrolled at other types of institutions. Almost two thirds of students (66.2%) from TVET colleges experienced difficulty in communicating with their institutions. Half of the students (49.9%) reported that they had a suitable place to study during lockdown, while 78.6% had regular access to electricity during lockdown. Significantly more TVET and University of Technology students received transport to return home and fee refunds.ConclusionWhile it was encouraging that most HEIs had capacity for online learning and made provision of internet access for students, it was concerning that students who are enrolled at TVET colleges faced more learning challenges during the lockdown. This highlights the inequality in learning support at different types of institutions, and that effective support from HEIs to students during the COVID-19 pandemic was not fully implemented.

ThriveZA-Nurturing Sustainable Entrepreneurship for South African Youth: A Review

Recently, addressing entrepreneurship among South African youth has gained importance due to high unemployment rates and limited job prospects. Sustainable entrepreneurship offers a solution by generating employment, driving economic growth, and reducing poverty. This article outlines the current situation for South African youth, highlighting challenges and prospects related to entrepreneurship. It explores factors, strategies, and interventions that can foster a sustainable entrepreneurial spirit, emphasising the importance of an enabling environment through supportive policies and infrastructure. The article reviews recent literature on policies promoting sustainable entrepreneurship for South African youth, employing a semi-systematic content analysis approach. It focuses on improving the well-being of unemployed youth and the hurdles in educational institutions in fostering entrepreneurship. Preliminary findings emphasise the significance of funding access, business skills development, mentorship, and networking opportunities in nurturing sustainable entrepreneurship. The outcomes stress the need for comprehensive support mechanisms and policy actions to promote and sustain youth entrepreneurship. By cultivating an ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurial endeavours, South Africa can unlock the untapped entrepreneurial potential of its youth, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future. Empowering young individuals to create job opportunities and contribute to the economy can yield significant benefits for individuals, communities, and society.

Increased difficulty accessing food and income change during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth living in the eThekwini district, South Africa.

To estimate the effect of income change on difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic for South African youth and evaluate whether this effect was modified by receiving social grants. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Primary outcome was increased difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic. Income change was categorised as 'Decreased a lot', 'Decreased slightly' and 'Unchanged or increased'. Multivariable logistic regressions were used, with an interaction term between social grant receipt and income change. eThekwini district, South Africa. Youth aged 16-24 years. Among 1,620 participants, median age was 22 years (IQR 19-24); 861 (53 %) were women; 476 (29 %) reported increased difficulty accessing food; 297 (18 %) reported that income decreased a lot, of whom 149 (50 %) did not receive social grants. Experiencing a large income decrease was highly associated with increased difficulty accessing food during the COVID-19 pandemic (adjusted OR [aOR] 3·63, 95 % CI 2·70, 4·88). The aOR for the effect of a large income decrease on difficulty accessing food, compared to no income change, were 1·49 (95 % CI 0·98, 2·28) among participants receiving social grants, and 6·63 (95 % CI 4·39, 9·99) among participants not receiving social grants. While social grant support made a great difference in lowering the effect of income decrease on difficulty accessing food, it was insufficient to fully protect youth from those difficulties. In post-pandemic recovery efforts, there is a critical need to support youth through economic empowerment programming and food schemes.

Eradicating a Culture of Public Mistrust in TVET College Education in South Africa: A Manifesto for the Sector’s Sustainability Ahead of 4IR

The consumption of technical and vocational education and training has increased exponentially over the past two decades. In terms of inclusion, it is without a doubt that today’s TVET sector is a far cry from what it was before the democratic government took over the baton from the apartheid government. TVET has become a refuge to many hopefuls from the historically disadvantaged sectors of society who, due to a range of apparent reasons, would ordinarily not have managed to partake in tertiary education. To many South African youth, TVET presents an avenue for the acquisition of a skill that will give them a fighting chance at escaping the harsh recurrence of poverty, economic inactivity and resource deprivation they are subjected to almost on a daily basis. However, beneath this silver lining lies a growing public disgruntlement over the TVET system’s ability to steadfastly deliver quality education and transform the lives of students, by instilling in them agency for self-regulated and collaborative innovation that will turn them into formidable and assertive role players in the knowledge societies, come the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). To understand the crux of public mistrust in TVET college education in South Africa, an extensive body of literature was reviewed. The findings of the paper point to strategic factors (which in the main are attributed to a lack of effective leadership and managerial skills) and contextual factors that occur at a campus level, as major causes of public mistrust in TVET education. The paper concludes by tabling a manifesto for changing the status quo ahead of the advent of 4IR.

Who wants a reparative future? Social mobility beliefs, and young South African’s narrative positioning within the historic moral community

This paper explores how young South Africans think about the need for a reparative future through a consideration of their relationship to South Africa’s historic moral community. By historic moral community I draw on MacIntyre (2007), Sandel (2009), and Shotwell’s (2016) work to refer to the network of those from whom we inherit, and to whom we owe, an obligation – past, present, and future. This paper draws on data from a ten-month classroom ethnography in Cape Town. The ethnography looked at four Grade 9 history classrooms in four racially distinct schools and included multiple interviews with between four and six students from each class (n = 20) over the course of the year. Data collection focussed on how the legacies of apartheid were taught, and how students learned to use history to make sense of their personal circumstances and contemporary society. It also explored students’ narratives regarding their own social mobility trajectories, how they perceived the effects of apartheid on their own lives, and attitudes regarding the need for reparative action in light of apartheid. The data demonstrated not only the diversity of attitudes towards reparative futures that exist among South African youth, but also suggests that young people who narrate their life trajectories as being intertwined with South Africa’s historic moral community both advocate for collective responsibility for past injustice, and feel a sense of agency over their future social mobility.

TikTok and memetic activism against racism in South Africa

ABSTRACT This article explores TikTok users’ responses to a racist incident at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. We analyse the content strategies of TikToks that received the most engagement as well as a timeline of TikToks to analyse how the framing of the event shifted over time. We consider TikTok as a space for youth to reflect on everyday politics in highly personalized ways and to develop their voice and visibility through particular content strategies. We firstly argue that South African youth frame local political acts within global frameworks to link their own political realities to algorithmically recognized global causes. In addressing both local audiences and the algorithm, activists construct messages with potentially broader algorithmic visibility that speak both to their highly localized context and to a global generation Z audience. We caution that such global framings of local political events may limit engagement with local complexities. Secondly, we argue that similar to TikTok activism globally, we observe the ‘memefication’ or ‘templatibility’ of activist messages on TikTok, where users juxtapose a political message with an audio meme or ‘earworm’. By doing this, South African users mobilize increased visibility and insert these intertextual political messages within existing ‘imitation publics’ that algorithmically congregate around such global memes, infusing new meaning into the affective language of global youth culture, while injecting playfulness into local political culture. We therefore argue that TikTok’s power is essentially glocal, as it allows local issues to be reframed through global discourses and memes.