SAYC Ethekwini METRO

SAYC Ethekwini METRO SAYC is an autonomous, non-partisan, representative body of youth in South Africa

MEDIA STATEMENT:SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH COUNCIL ETHEKWINI METRO STATEMENT ON THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAYCThe South African Y...
20/08/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT:

SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH COUNCIL ETHEKWINI METRO STATEMENT ON THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAYC

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Metro proudly joins young people across the country in celebrating the 29th anniversary of the South African Youth Council.

For 29 years, SAYC has remained committed to representing the interests and aspirations of young people and advancing meaningful youth participation in social, economic and political development.

This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s contribution while renewing our commitment to building a more inclusive and prosperous future for all young people.

Despite the progress achieved, young people continue to experience serious challenges, including unemployment, poverty, inequality, limited access to education and skills development, substance abuse, gender-based violence and inadequate opportunities for entrepreneurship. These challenges require urgent, coordinated and sustainable action from government, the private sector, civil society and youth organisations.

As SAYC eThekwini Metro, we reaffirm our responsibility to serve as the legitimate voice of young people. We remain committed to advocating for youth development, strengthening youth organisations and creating platforms through which young people can influence decisions affecting their lives and communities.

We call upon all young people to remain united, active and determined in shaping the future of our country. We also encourage all stakeholders to strengthen their partnerships with youth structures and ensure that young people are not merely consulted but are meaningfully included in decision-making and development programmes.

Happy 29th anniversary to the South African Youth Council. May SAYC continue to grow, lead and champion the aspirations of young people across South Africa.

Issued by:
South African Youth Council – eThekwini Metro
The Legitimate Voice of Young People

SAYC ETHEKWINI PARTICIPATES IN DISTRICT AIDS COUNCIL20 August 2026The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Regio...
20/08/2026

SAYC ETHEKWINI PARTICIPATES IN DISTRICT AIDS COUNCIL
20 August 2026

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Region, led by Regional Chairperson Lihle Hlatshwayo and Deputy Chairperson Sanele Mhlongo, participated in the District AIDS Council held at Durban City Hall on Friday, 14 August 2026.

The SAYC remains committed to ensuring that young people are represented in critical platforms that address the social and developmental challenges affecting our communities.

Our participation in the District AIDS Council forms part of our continued commitment to strengthening youth representation and contributing towards coordinated responses to issues affecting young people across eThekwini.

Young people must not only be beneficiaries of programmes but they must be active participants in shaping the responses that affect their lives.

MEDIA STATEMENT:SAYC ETHEKWINI WELCOMES THE APPOINTMENT OF THE KZN INTERIM PROVINCIAL TASK TEAM12 AUGUST 2026The South A...
12/08/2026

MEDIA STATEMENT:
SAYC ETHEKWINI WELCOMES THE APPOINTMENT OF THE KZN INTERIM PROVINCIAL TASK TEAM
12 AUGUST 2026

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Region welcomes the appointment of the KwaZulu-Natal Interim Provincial Task Team (IPTT) and wishes the newly appointed collective well as it assumes the responsibility of leading the organisation through this important period of renewal, rebuilding and organisational consolidation.

We acknowledge the mandate entrusted to the IPTT by the National Executive Committee (NEC), including the responsibility of preparing the organisation in KwaZulu-Natal for its Biennial General Assembly (BGA) within the prescribed period.

As the eThekwini Region, we welcome the IPTT's intention to undertake a review and assessment of the functionality and work of SAYC structures across the Province. Organisational renewal must be accompanied by honest assessment, accountability and the strengthening of structures so that the Youth Council remains capable of effectively representing and advancing the interests of young people.

We therefore approach this process in the spirit of cooperation and organisational renewal and remain ready to account for the work undertaken within the eThekwini Region, while engaging constructively on areas requiring further strengthening and support.

SAYC eThekwini further notes the position communicated by the IPTT regarding the existence of parallel structures within the Province. We reaffirm our commitment to the constitutional processes, legitimate structures and established governance mechanisms of the South African Youth Council.

Parallelism cannot be allowed to undermine organisational stability, institutional legitimacy or the collective mandate entrusted to SAYC by young people and its constituent organisations. We therefore support the resolution of these matters through the appropriate organisational structures and processes, while remaining focused on the substantive task of youth development.

At a time when young people across KwaZulu-Natal continue to confront unemployment, limited economic opportunities, skills challenges and barriers to meaningful participation in the economy, our organisation cannot afford to be distracted from its fundamental purpose.

The renewal and rebuilding of SAYC must ultimately translate into a stronger organisation that is present on the ground, responsive to young people and capable of coordinating meaningful interventions across government, civil society, business and the broader youth sector.

We wish Provincial Convenor Welani Mazibuko, the Provincial Coordinator Mahlanga Tshabalala, our very own Regional Chairperson, Lihle Hlatshwayo and the entire KZN Interim Provincial Task Team strength and success in executing their mandate and preparing the Province for a credible, inclusive and constitutionally sound Biennial General Assembly.

SAYC eThekwini stands ready to contribute towards rebuilding a united, functional and development-driven Youth Council in KwaZulu-Natal.

Together we lead. Together we transform.
____________________________
Contact Us
For enquiries, please contact:

Melusi Romeo Gumede
eThekwini Regional Spokesperson
📞 067 822 6083

Lihle Hlatshwayo
eThekwini Regional Chairperson
📞 062 066 5979

Issued on behalf of:
South African Youth Council (SAYC) – eThekwini Region

70 YEARS OF WOMEN’S COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND IMPACT 🇿🇦09 August 2026As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day and Women’s ...
09/08/2026

70 YEARS OF WOMEN’S COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND IMPACT 🇿🇦
09 August 2026

As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day and Women’s Month 2026, the South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Metro joins the nation in marking 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March.

We honour the generations of women whose courage and resistance helped shape our democracy, while recognising the women who continue to lead, build communities, drive development and shape South Africa’s future.

Seventy years later, the responsibility before us is not simply to celebrate progress, but to advance the unfinished work of equality, empowerment and opportunity for all women and girls.

We honour the past.
We celebrate the present.
We build the future.

Happy Women's Month.

02/08/2026

As we bring this Voter Registration Weekend to a close, we once again encourage all young people to visit their voting station to register to vote, or, if you are already registered, to verify and confirm your voter registration details.

Our Regional Deputy Secretary, Bongumusa Ngcobo, reminds every young person that democracy is strongest when young people participate.

Your vote is your voice, and your voice helps shape the future of our communities.

🗳️ Shape Tomorrow. Register Today.

31/07/2026

🇿🇦 The future of our country will not be shaped by those who stand on the sidelines, but by those who choose to participate.

Every generation has an opportunity to leave its mark. For South Africa's youth, that begins by registering to vote and making your voice count. Democracy is strongest when young people are active participants in shaping the future they want to inherit.

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) – eThekwini Metro calls on all eligible young people to register during the Final Voter Registration Weekend on 1 & 2 August.

Don't leave your future in someone else's hands.
📲 Scan the QR code on our campaign posters or visit the IEC Online

Registration Portal to register or check your registration status.

🇿🇦 SHAPE TOMORROW. REGISTER TODAY.

29/07/2026

🇿🇦 Every generation has a responsibility to shape the future it wants to inherit. For South Africa's youth, that responsibility begins with one simple action: registering to vote.

Your vote is more than a mark on a ballot paper. It is your voice, your influence, and your opportunity to help shape the leadership and direction of our country. If you don't participate, others will make decisions that affect your future on your behalf.

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Regional Council calls on every eligible young person to register during the Final Voter Registration Weekend on 1 & 2 August.

Don't watch the future happen. Help shape it.

📲 Scan the QR code or visit the IEC Online Registration Portal to register or check your registration status.

🇿🇦 SHAPE TOMORROW. REGISTER TODAY.

Pictures:SAYC eThekwini Marks Mandela Month Through Service at Dennis Hurley Centre26 July 2026The South African Youth C...
26/07/2026

Pictures:
SAYC eThekwini Marks Mandela Month Through Service at Dennis Hurley Centre
26 July 2026

The South African Youth Council (SAYC) eThekwini Region proudly commemorated Mandela Month by partnering with the Dennis Hurley Centre in Durban CBD to prepare and distribute breakfast and lunch meals to members of the homeless community on Saturday, 25 July 2026. Inspired by the legacy of President Nelson Mandela, our young volunteers dedicated their time and effort to serving others, reaffirming that true leadership is demonstrated through compassion, service and action.

This initiative reflects SAYC's commitment to building a generation of young people who lead not only through words, but through meaningful acts of service that uplift communities and restore hope.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Dennis Hurley Centre, all volunteers, and everyone who contributed towards making this initiative a success. We also acknowledge the participation and support of the South African Youth Council (SAYC) Harry Gwala District and uThukela District Regional Secretaries, whose presence and commitment embodied the spirit of unity and collective service in honour of Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy.

As young people, we must remember that service should not be confined to Mandela Month alone. Every community has someone in need, and every one of us has something to contribute, whether it is our time, our skills, our knowledge, or simply a helping hand.

We encourage all young people to make acts of service a part of their daily lives, because it is through consistent action, not occasional gestures, that we build stronger communities and a more compassionate South Africa.

Inspired by Mandela. Driven by Youth. Committed to Service. Together we change lives.




21/07/2026

Three days of dialogue, collaboration and strategic reflection have come to an end, but the real work begins now. The future of South Africa's youth will not be shaped by resolutions alone, but by the action we take in our communities to create opportunities, strengthen leadership, and equip young people with the education, skills and support they need to thrive in a changing world.

Together, we move from deliberation to delivery. 🇿🇦

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