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Youth in South Africa
Youth in South Africa constitute 37% of the population. The National Youth Commission Act 1996 in South Africa defines youth as those from ages 14 to 35 years. The high level of youth population is expected to exist for the next 20-30 years; the large proportion of working-age population presents South Africa with a window of opportunity for human capital and economic development. Although 20 years have passed since South Africa's transition from an apartheid government to a democracy, the country still suffers from the inequality produced by colonization and magnified by the previous government's apartheid policies. The burden of many of these inequalities falls on South African youth.

Past government policies in South Africa have had a detrimental effect on the current generation of youth, including diminishing their ability to participate meaningfully in social, political, and economic activities of society. During apartheid, many youth were arrested and detained in jail, often without trial; many children were held in adult prisons.

Education
Since the end of apartheid, youth educational opportunities have expanded significantly. In general, older persons are likely to have lower levels of education than younger ones, which is attributable to the apartheid government policies regarding education. For example, 40.6% of those aged 20-24 years completed grade 12; only 9.9% of those aged 80 years or more completed grade 12. Secondary school enrollment has increased for disadvantaged groups. Despite this, little gains have been made in decreasing the number of young people with little or no education. Race and gender inequalities tend to determine who continues to higher levels of education; black South African youth are more likely to report financial reasons as the primary barrier to continuing education than any other reason. Disabled youth tend to be underrepresented in the education system, which leads to high rates of unemployment.

Only 11 percent of black South African youth and 7 percent of Coloured youth in the 18-24 year age bracket are in University. This is quite low compared to 60 percent of white South African youth. Poor quality primary and secondary schooling is a key reason for this.

Unemployment
Unemployment is a significant issue that young South Africans face. About 70% of all unemployed persons in South Africa are youth. The 2011 South African census found that people in the youngest age groups (15-19 years and 20-24 years) face the most difficult challenges in the country's labour market. More than two thirds of youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years old are unemployed. Unemployment rates in South African generally decline with increasing age. The labour force participation rate was also the lowest for the youngest age groups.

Generally, as levels of education increase, employment increases. This has not been the case in South Africa. Since 1995, the largest growth in unemployment has been among those with matriculation (completion of grade 12) and tertiary education. Young people are disproportionately affected by unemployment in South Africa.

The young people who do obtain employment are often assisted by personal contacts or networks. Black youth often do not have access to these networks and do not receive adequate career guidance. Students from historically disadvantaged institutions are less likely to attain employment than their wealthier peers. Amongst the entire South African population, black Africans have the highest unemployment rates; whites have the lowest unemployment rates.

Internationally, youth with disabilities are at a disadvantage for gaining employment. This is true in South Africa, despite some government efforts to address the employment disparity. Barriers to employment for youth with disability include social attitudes, beliefs, and misconceptions regarding disability as a negative trait.

Poverty
Approximately 40% of South Africans live in poverty. Approximately 17 million young people under age 18 in South Africa are estimated to be impoverished. South African youth in poverty often look to higher education as a means to a better life. However, access to higher education is often still restricted to those who are impoverished and from rural areas.

Health
Youth face a variety of health risks in South Africa. Alcohol consumption is on the rise among youth, and there are strong links between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior among adolescents. One in five adolescents in South Africa attempts suicide; this statistic continues to rise. In 2003, South African recorded 25 deaths per 100,000 adolescents due to suicide; this is higher than the international average of 23 per 100,000.

HIV/AIDS is a notably prominent threat to the health of South African youth. South Africa carries the greatest burden of HIV-infected individuals in the world; the district of KwaZulu-Natal is the epicenter of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, with an estimated 1.2 million infected individuals.

Among youth, the burden of HIV tends to fall on females. Young women in the 15-19 age bracket have a HIV prevalence rate of 5.2%; for men this age, the prevalence rate is 1.2%. In the 20-24 age bracket, women have a 17.9% HIV prevalence rate; men in this age range have a prevalence rate of 5.6%.

Community development policy in South Africa highlights the need for 'the active involvement of young people in national development' and the vital importance 'for their participation in national, provinicial and local development programmes.' The involvement of young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS is a key foundation for successful HIV/AIDS management, South African policy, and international policy. The youth struggle with HIV/AIDS is closely linked with youth social development. South African policy has translated into practice; many community development and HIV/AIDS interventions have been launched to curb the epidemic and increase youth participation. Despite this, a substantial reduction in HIV prevalence among young people has not been achieved.