South African Youth Lead the Continent in LGBTQ+ Acceptance

The results of the 2024 African Youth Survey have highlighted the progressive attitudes of South African youth toward LGBTQ+ rights compared to their peers across the continent.

The findings, released this week, reveal a growing recognition among young South Africans of the importance of equality and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, setting the country apart as a leader in LGBTQ+ acceptance in Africa.

Commissioned by the Ichikowitz Foundation, the survey conducted 5,604 face-to-face interviews with young people between the ages of 8-24 years, evenly divided by gender, in 16 African countries.

Key Insights from the Survey

South African youth stand out: A striking 80% of young South Africans believe that LGBTQ+ individuals deserve greater protections, a significant jump from 64% in 2020. This figure is more than double the continent-wide average of 37% (a slight decrease from 38% in 2020).

Reporting hate crimes: While 56% of South African youth said they would feel comfortable reporting crimes motivated by sexual orientation, the figures are slightly higher for crimes based on religion (62%) and ethnicity (60%).

Reporting gender-based violence: 60% of South African youth said they felt comfortable reporting gender-based violence, which fell five points lower than the Africa-wide average, dominated by Rwanda (96%), Kenya (90%) and Zambia (78%)

Awareness of inequality: Less than half (45%) of South African respondents said that everyone is treated equally under the law in their country, versus 56% who said the same continent-wide, suggesting a greater awareness of inequality among South African youth;

Many Challenges Remain

Despite notable strides, the findings also underscore areas where work remains. Across Africa, around 30 of the 69 countries globally that still criminalise same-sex relationships are located on the continent.

Ivor Ichikowitz, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Ichikowitz Foundation, reflected on the findings, particularly as they relate to South Africa.

“We have taken some critical steps forward as a country when it comes to addressing the need for greater respect for and tolerance of sexual identity, as well as the practical issue of equally protecting the rights of all South Africans. But more needs to be done – not only when it comes to awareness – but also action.

“In this sense, these findings are an important reminder to all of us that practicing democracy means protecting the rights and the freedoms of all South Africans and that, on this important thirtieth anniversary of our ending apartheid, we recognise that our work must only continue,” said Ichikowitz.

The 2024 African Youth Survey is the third of its kind to be fielded since the Ichikowitz Foundation launched the initiative five years ago. The 16 countries surveyed this year included Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.