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Top1. Introduction
As South Africa come to celebrate almost 25 years of democracy and brave new world of the so called “rainbow nation”, South Africa experiencing lots of challenges from recovering from junk economic status. South Africa’s inequality, poverty and unemployment reached records high (Cloete, 2015, Xaba, 2016). On the other side South Africa’s labour markets continued to favour computer technology effective labourer. Most indicators suggested that South Africa is not sailing in the wind and that it is not good times. But reality is that even before the global economic meltdown at the dawn of the new millennium, born free generation had little to celebrate (Mthembu, 2011, 2005). In fact, the past two decades Black African unemployment rate and unequal pay are based on race and they have revealed that young Black Africans have been left out of South Africa’s thriving economy.
A concise review in the labour market, education system, and socioeconomic conditions our Black African youths gives us a call for examination of the realities and challenges Born free generation confronted with. Due to unresponsive labour market many of these are pushed out from mainstream economy to seek salvation in the stress life (Terblanche, 2002, Mthembu, 2005). For many streets is the only means to survive, for many both in and outside of the street gangs and cliques, selling and organising drugs and crime as the only options in the face of unfeeling South Africas labour market. These dynamics combined shaped South African youth identity especially those who live in the townships as they grow strength on the underground economy (Terreblanche, 2002, De Boeck et al, 2005 Mgxitama et al, 2005).
When one critically looks at the older generation of apartheid times, they grew up with harsh conditions, whites did not include those instead they use them and abuse them. The paradox is that older generation received second-class citizenship first-hand (Mzobe, 2010, Ramphele, 2002 Mthembu 2005, 2017). Today older generation cannot identify or connect with the mode of struggles and oppression facing Born free generation. For older generations oppression is simply on a focus of white supremacy blocking access economically. Born frees are confronted by poverty, unemployment, and limited job options yet they born under the ANC led government, with lip service to equality, basic human rights and better education (Mzobe, 2010, Ramphele, 2002 Xaba,2016 Straker et al,1992). Until there is a serious commitment to economic development and equal access born free generation will continue to be subjected to inferior schools, limited employment possibilities.