July is National Savings Month in South Africa time to take stock, reassess, and reframe our relationship with money. The economy is not exactly thriving, and many households are doing their best just to stay afloat. However, savings still matter. Saving even a little can be life changing. According to recent data, over 80% of middle-income South Africans don’t have enough saved to cover even one week of expenses. That’s not a small problem –yes, young South Africans are saving, but their saving habits are evolving. Some young South Africans struggle with saving due to low income, high living costs, and a tendency to prioritize immediate gratification over long-term financial goals. A significant number of young South Africans are also grappling with debt, which can hinder their ability to save. As Expressions we ask is our youth being taught the importance of savings.

As Basic economics: when something is in crazy high demand (Boks!) and supply is limited (stadiums max out around 55,000), prices go up. That’s one factor. Even though prices crept up in 2024, there wasn't massive pushback. I even saw tickets for the Ellis Park NZ test around R1,500. Doable-ish. Sure, Cape Town was always pricier than Joburg or MP (we accepted that, right?), but complaints hit the national stage when Capetonians reportedly paid R4,000 to see the Boks vs All Blacks. Rugby’s appeal is growing in SA (especially with more black middle-class fans wanting the live experience). It’s the second most followed sport (~10 million fans), behind soccer (~40 million fans) A systematic that is depriving the low living citizens to experience the rugby game more over the sales. How Springbok sales happen. They are way out on sale possibly 2 months or more before the game. An ordinary citizen will not have R1500 or R3000 waiting for a rugby game whilst there is no food in the house. Most Africans seen at the stadium to a Springbok Test - mostly are complimentary.

Youth unemployment in South Africa is a persistent and severe challenge, with a large percentage of young people aged 15-34 actively seeking but unable to find work. Statistics from the first quarter of 2025 show the youth unemployment rate at 46.1%, an increase from the previous quarter. This signifies that nearly half of young South Africans are unemployed, impacting not only the individuals themselves but also the country's economic growth and social stability. So this week on Expressions we are looking at how we can empower young people, there are organizations like Empowerworx that creates events that ensure impact, growth and transformation, across different audience streams – from youth and entrepreneurs to women and men. They create events that make a fundamental difference to the world and to the lives of individuals.

In line with the celebration of the SABC’s 75th birthday, on this episode of Expressions, we go down memory Lane to check how far the show has come. We speak to key role players of making expressions a reality. We also explore the importance of having a youth current affairs show like Expressions

As we come to the end of June, which is a celebration of youth month. These trailblazers broke down barriers and, leaving a profound impact on sports, academia, broadcasting and entrepreneurship. This serves as inspiration to other young people out there.

Is the South African law biased? June is Men's Health Month, an observance aimed at raising awareness about preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Men are often the perpetrators of GBV and femicide in South Africa. However, men are also victims of abuse and social injustice. On this episode of Expressions, we will try to give men a platform to voice out their concerns and views on social matters. Men are usually overlooked in the media and the law

Depression among South African youth is a growing concern, and it's driven by a complex mix of social, economic, and psychological factors. Many young people grow up in broken homes or without present fathers, which creates emotional instability. Parents who are emotionally unavailable, absent due to work, or who grew up in trauma themselves may struggle to provide mental and emotional support. Social media also creates unrealistic expectations, as youth constantly compare themselves to celebrities and influencers who appear to live “perfect” lives. There is a major disconnect between today’s youth and their parents which is rooted in culture, history, and changing times.

As South Africa marks the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising and 25 years since the advent of democracy in South Africa, Expressions seeks to unpack the relevance of June 16 on the modern youth. The show also seeks to unpack the challenges that are faced by the modern youth in comparison to the youth of Yesteryear. Schools are plagued by violence, rapes and dropouts.