Fake Freedom Day will be celebrated across the country by both the ANC and the DA, featuring all the other GNU partners. The veil was put over our parents in 1994 as they were fooled into “freedom” as interpreted by those who sold out to those who kept their status quo as Apartheid beneficiaries.
Today, the natives are still begging for a seat at the economic table of this country, condemned to the endless dark and evil tunnel of hopelessness and despair. What is the future of native youth in this country? What freedom is celebrated on this day? When young people are sitting at home with Diplomas and Degrees?
Fake freedom is celebrated while a seven-year-old girl is raped in school and the rapist gets away with it. Natives are severely depressed, helpless, and living in hell on the land they are supposed to own. The ANC must account for the nonsense deal they struck with the apartheid government. They must explain why, thirty-one years later, the natives are fighting over breadcrumbs.
Today, they will hold rallies talking about freedom fighters who fought the apartheid regime. But those freedom fighters fought for white people to keep the economic power forever, while the natives spent their lifetime trying to untangle themselves from the colonial and apartheid web.
People who truly fought for the actual liberation of the natives are either dead, thrown in prison, or are continuously being prosecuted to keep as far away as possible from any potential to positively affect the economy for the natives.
Therefore, this Fake Freedom Day is a huge middle finger to the natives who have become a welfare state.
To the millions of unemployed youth, no one is coming for you! Use whatever little skill or talent you have to create employment. In the early 2000s, our teachers used to preach to us that when we finish school, we need to create jobs instead of looking for jobs. It was a noble ask; however, most of us were the first generation to be educated in our families, therefore, there was a need to secure employment so that we could get our families out of the historical poverty.
Most of us are out of the youth bracket and still fighting the same battle, trying to untangle ourselves from the apartheid and colonial nets, and it feels impossible and tiring. We are joined by the generation that came after us in this pit; we have to explain to them WTF is going on, we have to tell them why we do not have anything. But most importantly, we have to invite them to the struggle, show them our parents’ faults in allowing Nelson Mandela and co to hypnotize them into accepting fake freedom that had no economic substance. Our white counterparts have legacies and family trust funds that will sustain them and their five more generations to come.
The natives cannot afford to accept their fate as narrated by the CODESA outcome in the ‘90s. The ANC has babysat us long enough, and there is no single politician who can claim to have our best interests at heart. We are the people responsible for our freedom, we need to take responsibility for ourselves and navigate our way out of the colonial and apartheid maze.
How do we navigate our way out of this mess?
1. Shift the Mindset: From Employment to Ownership
- Think like owners, not just employees.
- Start small businesses, side hustles, and own intellectual property (music, books, art, digital products).
2. Master Financial Literacy
- Understand saving, investing, budgeting, and debt management early.
- Start investing — even small amounts — into assets like unit trusts, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), and later real estate.
3. Leverage Technology
- Use the internet to sell skills globally: freelancing, e-commerce, content creation, and app development.
- Build digital businesses — they require low startup capital and can scale fast.
4. Invest in Skills That Pay
- Focus on high-demand skills: coding, digital marketing, data analysis, renewable energy, agriculture tech, financial services.
- Upskill continuously — free courses (like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy) make it easier than ever.
5. Collaborate and Network
- Build circles of opportunity: partnerships, cooperatives, community projects.
- Share knowledge, split costs, and create economies of scale with peers.
6. Tap into Government and Private Sector Opportunities
- Apply for youth enterprise grants, startup funding, and business incubators (e.g., NYDA, SEDA, SAB Foundation).
7. Create Assets, Not Just Income
- Write a book.
- Start a YouTube channel.
- Develop an online course.
- Buy land.
- License a product.
Assets earn money even when you’re sleeping.
8. Stay Resilient and Think Long-Term
- Wealth isn’t overnight — it’s a 5–10 year journey.
- Failures are learning steps, not final stops. Stay consistent.
2025 Youth Wealth Blueprint
“Own your skills. Own your future.”
Step 1: Set a Wealth Goal
- Example: “I want R100,000 in assets by 2028.”
- Be specific, measurable, and realistic.
Step 2: Learn About Money
- Watch 1 financial literacy video per week (YouTube: “Easy Money South Africa” or “Just One Lap”).
- Read 1 book (start with The Richest Man in Babylon).
Step 3: Launch a Side Hustle
- Sell a skill: Design, tutoring, writing, baking, photography, etc.
- Start on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or sell locally via WhatsApp groups.
Step 4: Save and Invest Consistently
- Open a TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) at a bank or investment platform (EasyEquities, Satrix).
- Save at least R200 a month — automate it!
Step 5: Grow High-Demand Skills
- Pick one digital skill (e.g., coding, digital marketing, copywriting).
- Complete a FREE course online by June 2025.
Step 6: Network Upwards
- Attend 1 event or online webinar per month (Entrepreneurship, Business, Tech).
- Find a mentor or join a business network (like NYDA Youth Networks).
Step 7: Build or Buy Assets
- Save to buy land, invest in ETFs, and build digital products (ebooks, courses, YouTube channels).
- Focus on assets that appreciate or generate passive income.
Step 8: Stay Consistent and Document It
- Track income, expenses, and investments monthly.
- Celebrate small wins to stay motivated!
“You don’t have to be rich to start. You have to start to be rich.”