This year marks 25 years of democracy.<\/p>\n
In this 25th year, citizens will once again take to the polls on May 8 to take part in the sixth general elections.<\/p>
While it is everyone\u2019s democratic right to vote, some young people are not interested in exercising that right.<\/p>\n
Hlengiwe Thabethe, a 25-year-old from Lambton, is just as old as our democracy and as a young adult, she feels excluded by political parties running for election.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in voting for change,\u201d said Hlengiwe.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough I understand the importance and regard it as irresponsible not to vote, I will not be voting this year.<\/p>\n \u201cNo political party truly invests in the youth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat they say during their election campaigns and what we experience post-elections are always two realities in contrast.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Hlengiwe was not around during the apartheid era, she feels there were conducive systems in place, which helped better the country.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, segregation was wrong. A lot of things were wrong with our history, but when we changed to a democratic nation we could have kept some systems, like the education system,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state of education in our country is appalling.<\/p>\n A large number of children drop out of school and aren\u2019t questioned for doing so.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/04\/15GCNGENERALVOTE_32798-520x390.jpg\")
ALSO READ:\u00a0\u00a0#IMadeMyMark: St Catherine\u2019s learners share their reasons for voting<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n