Implementation of the Population Policy for South Africa is a multi-sectoral effort and supported by various other policies. Addressing youth concerns is a significant strategy to assess the achievement of the stated policy objectives. This paper on the youth of South Africa examines the progress that has been made in terms of the strategic objectives as set out in the Population Policy of 1998. Various documents and reports relating to research studies and conducted surveys have been consulted, and several national and international youth policies and programmes that impact on the lives of young people, have been reviewed. Recommendations offer suggestions as to how to proceed in the immediate future.

Since the advent of democracy in South Africa, major transformations have taken place in health legislation, health policy and health and social service delivery. Before 1994, there were no comprehensive reproductive health policies in South Africa. In keeping with international trends at the time, women’s health services consisted mainly of maternal and child health services.

Currently, South African reproductive health policies and laws are among the most progressive and comprehensive in the world in terms of the recognition that they give to human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights. These changes occurred against a background of broader international sexual and reproductive health and rights reform. South Africa endorsed the Platforms of Action from the International Conference (ICPD) in 1994 and the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (FWCW) in 1995. These conferences made explicit the links between women’s sexual and reproductive health and women’s rights and socio-economic development, based on a broadened definition of sexual and reproductive health. The importance of including men in sexual and reproductive health was also emphasised.