Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Centre for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution within the Faculty of Humanities, Yekelo argued that democracy must be understood not only through elections and constitutional rights, but through the everyday realities of inequality, exclusion and historical injustice that continue to shape South African society.
The seminar, titled “South Africa’s Youth and Democracy: A Human Security Perspective”, brought together students and academics for a critical discussion on democracy, youth participation and the enduring legacies of colonialism and apartheid in post-1994 South Africa.
Drawing on his experiences in the liberation struggle, exile, democratic transition, military leadership and continental peacebuilding, Yekelo reflected on the unfinished project of freedom in South Africa.
“History is not dead. The past continues to shape the present,” he told the audience at the University’s Council Chambers.
Yekelo, who previously served as South Africa’s Ambassador to South Sudan and held senior leadership positions within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), challenged students to think critically about their responsibilities within a constitutional democracy.
Reflecting on the significance of the 1976 student uprising, he said young people today inherit both the freedoms secured through struggle and the responsibility to deepen democracy through active citizenship.
“That generation took upon themselves the duty and obligation to change the reality in this country. Rights and freedoms must also come with a commitment to serve communities and society,” he said.
Central to his lecture was the concept of “human security”, which he framed through the principles of “freedom from fear” and “freedom from want”.
“Our democracy remains tested because many South Africans still live under conditions shaped by structural inequality. Freedom means different things depending on where people live and the realities they experience daily,” Yekelo said.
He argued that apartheid-era spatial planning, economic exclusion and unequal access to opportunity continue to define democratic South Africa decades after the formal end of apartheid.
“The geography of South Africa has not fundamentally changed. What changed was the removal of laws restricting movement, but many structural conditions remain,” he noted.
Yekelo also warned against growing historical amnesia among younger generations, emphasising the importance of understanding the historical roots of present-day social and political challenges.
“We are running into danger when young people no longer understand the history of their country. History matters because the past shapes the choices and possibilities of the present,” he said.
Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Acting Director of the Centre, situated the discussion within South Africa’s broader tradition of youth political activism.
He challenged the perception that young people are politically apathetic, arguing that declining voter participation should not be confused with political disengagement.
“Young people continue to lead protests, social movements and struggles affecting their communities. The issue is not necessarily political apathy, but declining participation in electoral politics,” said Prof Breakfast.
The seminar forms part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to facilitate critical dialogue on conflict management, governance and social justice.
From left, retired Major General Gordon Yekelo, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Prof Pamela Maseko and Prof Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast
It also advances the Faculty’s thematic focus on Security and Peace Studies by encouraging deeper engagement with questions of human security, historical memory and democratic participation in contemporary South Africa.