BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
CEO and cofounder at DigsConnect; the largest student housing platform in Africa, Alexandria Procter, 30, is possibly one of the most influential young people in the world. She was appointed to the board of directors for the National Youth Development Agency by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2021. Procter is a director at the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative – the youngest director on both boards.
The Fuse caught up with the young entrepreneur to discuss the importance of voting in the elections, especially for young people. But first, she shared her own experience of voting for the first time.
“I turned 18 in 2011, and the next national election was in 2014, and the local elections were in 2016. I’ve always been quite active in civic spaces, politics, and have a keen interest in public affairs, so I voted in both and rallied my peers to vote as well. I take voting very seriously, and it was incredible to participate and be a part of democracy,” Procter reminisced.
The Gqeberha-born woman stressed that young people must vote, because they are the ones inheriting this country and the world. “Our lives, freedoms, and opportunities are completely shaped by the leaders we vote in. Our future is our choice.”
She admits one of the reasons young people might not be keen on voting is the confusion of not knowing who to vote for. “Vote for a party first and foremost with clean audits in the areas where it governs. As a very basic starting point, you can’t have a government that steals from its citizens. Next, vote for a party that is actually delivering results, and not excuses, in the jurisdictions where it governs. Ask yourself: ‘Which party is creating jobs, bolstering the economy, investing in infrastructure? And which party is creating destruction and collapse where it governs?’ It’s pretty clear then,” she concluded.
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