DE Williams: Youth attitudes mirrored in Kanye West ahead of voter registration

In an opinion piece published on June 7, 2026, DE Williams discusses the upcoming 2026 Municipal Elections and the first voter registration weekend set for June 21–22, as announced by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Williams notes that the word 'registration' brings to mind rapper Kanye West and his album Late Registration.

Williams argues that West reflects the working-class black millennial and Gen-Z youth in South Africa. Adults, he writes, do not understand West's sarcasm and wit, and judge him harshly. In response, West attempts to show he does not care about their judgment by becoming more controversial. Williams draws a parallel to South African youth, who he says feel unloved and unheard. They believe society thinks they are entitled and selfish, and that while they feel it is their time, the stage is dominated by older generations.

The piece concludes by suggesting that, like West, South African youth adopt a defiant attitude because they do not believe they are genuinely listened to.