By Staff Reporter
Johannesburg, South Africa — The voices of Africa’s youth echoed with clarity and purpose at the inaugural Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025, a landmark event held this week in Johannesburg aimed at reshaping the narrative of youth involvement in leadership, policy-making, and economic development.
What made this event stand out was not just its message, but its method: young people were not just guests—they were the main speakers, organisers, and visionaries. Held under the theme of pan-African cooperation and youth leadership, the Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025 was a collaborative platform that united civil society, business leaders, public officials, and youth-driven organisations under one roof.
“This was not just a talk shop,” said Naledi Maime, co-chair of Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025. “We wanted young people to be decision-makers, not just listeners. Everyone talks about youth development, but they do it separately. We brought them together—public, private, NPOs—because we all share the same vision.”
A Legacy of Youth Empowerment at Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025
The event was graced by Dr. Mathews Phosa, former Premier of Mpumalanga, whose keynote speech offered a powerful reminder of what belief in young talent can achieve.
“We are from the Mpumalanga province and we are faced with many challenges,” Phosa said. “One of them was how to get the youth involved in decision-making. I once took a young man of 24 to Parliament. They said I was mad. But I said, ‘He is very clever.’ Two years later, at just 26, I made him MEC of Finance—the youngest in the country.”
That young man, Lassi Chwayo, was present at the event and received a standing ovation. Phosa reminded attendees that Chwayo wasn’t just the youngest parliamentarian but had also been the youngest prisoner on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. “If he could suffer for us, he deserves to represent us,” Phosa said. “Theory is good, but practice is the evergreen tree of life.”
Youth Speak, Leaders Listen
The Africa Rise Youth Indaba was more than a celebration—it was a launchpad. Many speakers touched on themes of innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and accountability.
Zac Biyela, President of the Yithi Abantu Movement, was instrumental in bringing the event’s energy to the university space. “Vaal University of Technology was the first campus to host an exhibition as part of the 100 Million Jobs Campaign,” he said. “What I loved is that the Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025 didn’t just talk—it had actionable plans. For the Minister to say we’re breaking away from the traditional way of commemorating Youth Day? That was powerful.”
Uplifting Young Women
Empowerment also extended to gender inclusivity. Dr. Solange Mamsie, chairperson of the World Sustainable Development Goal and founder of the Nyema Foundation, shared her grassroots efforts in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We give young women education and hands-on training after matric when there’s no bursary or further schooling. We teach them skills so they can do something with their hands,” said Dr. Mamsie. “What I heard here motivates me to keep going.”
Challenges Behind the Scenes
Despite the event’s success, organising it was not easy. Maime explained the long and difficult road. “It took months of trying to convince people to fund us. Even days before the event, we didn’t have money for student transport. It came out of our own pockets. That’s the reality of working in youth development—people say they support you, but very few really do.”
Looking Ahead
The future of the Africa Rise Youth Indaba 2025 is already unfolding. The team is building relationships with international youth organizations, including the Young European League and embassies from Taiwan and Shanghai. The next phase will involve sharing ideas and learning from global policy development practices.
“This is just the beginning,” said Maime. “We want youth to see themselves as part of the global stage, not just Africa. We want them to shape their future—with their own voices.”
