7 November 2025
Thirty years into South Africa’s democracy, the promise of justice and transformation remains unevenly realised. Despite the country’s miraculous transition and reputation as a global model in transitional justice (TJ) through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the absence of intergenerational and descendant-centred approaches is negatively impacting today’s youth. Unemployment, gender-based violence (GBV), environmental and climate injustices are enduring challenges, all rooted in the legacy of apartheid and its preceding settler-colonial regimes.
This policy brief, written by Mosa Leteane, explores the state of intergenerational justice in South Africa, drawing from key informant youth interviews among Born Frees – the descendants of apartheid victims and intergenerational witnesses to a system they did not experience directly, but carry its burden. The brief proposes actionable pathways for intergenerational justice in South Africa and on the continent.
Key recommendations for South Africa and African Union member states include:
- Strengthening knowledge management and advocacy
- Advancing inclusivity, equity, and generational dimensions
- Strengthening TJ education, memorialisation, and healing
This brief is the third in a five-part youth-led series exploring the linkages between historical injustices, their enduring impacts in different African contexts, and the insufficiency of efforts to address these atrocities.
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