The Born Free Generation

South Africa's "born frees" - a nickname for those born in the year of the country's first free elections - turn 18 this year. Over recent years, a lot of attention has been placed on this so called born free generation. But why? Born in 1995, this generation is born into Democratic SA, free from the horrors of apartheid, and it is this generation that is coming of age, able to vote and become participant’s in democracy rather than beneficiaries.

Born free is not a compliment. The social character of the born-free generation is perceived to be carefree over-indulgence in leisure, entertainment, and promiscuity. Reference to a born free is used to describe the youth as an ignorant generation that has no regard for history but is at the same time happy to enjoy life under a free and democratic dispensation.

A generation in which the individual is only interested in his own comfort and material wealth. What should be South Africa’s greatest joy and delight, has become its greatest embarrassment and will result in its inevitable downfall. The Born Free generation are without interest in their past, and have little more for their future.

The previous generations of youths had direction in their lives, goals and objectives to which they collectively strived and fought for: freedom of speech, equality, tolerance, the list goes on. The current Born Frees, however, do not. Money, material wealth and fame are considered the collective goal, but are achieved individually.

Although of all the negatives that are associated with the born frees there is one thing that they have done really well. Significantly for a still race-divided nation, they are colour blind - different cultural and race groups mix freely, have similar attitudes and like the same products and brands.

It is now time for them, the youth who are part of the Born Free generation to stand up and be counted and leave apartheid in the past. They were born into a beautiful country, a...