Gauteng law student Zareef Minty, a former youth president of the Patriotic Alliance political party, made his television debut last Monday in the reality series One Day Leader.
The programme looks at youth leadership and the role young South Africans play in the development of the country.
The 22-year-old Sandton resident, who is completing his LLB at Wits University, featured with five other contestants in the 13-episode SABC 1 series, which is screened at 4.30pm.
“It’s been said that young people are a lost generation that cares less about the country and future and are more focused on image, pop culture and material consumption,” he said.
“ One Day Leader challenges this perception by inviting young people from around the country to put their leadership skills and abilities to the test, encourage the nation to go on the journey with them and be a future leader.
“For the 13 weeks, we will debate and battle out tasks and challenges based on various issues facing South Africa.
“We will motivate the public, put forward a vision for the nation and offer practical solutions. A panel of judges will interrogate the visions and viewers will vote for their chosen leader,” said Minty.
He found out earlier this month he had been selected out of about 5 000 applicants.
During the process of elimination, the participants underwent various challenges and debates via social media platforms.
He said the shows prior to this season allowed young leaders to grow and develop.
“I have seen people like Mukovhe Morris Masutha and Ndumiso Hadebe grow on the show to become national leaders who have the competency to lead the country.
“Today, Masutha runs the Thusanani Foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at bridging the ever-widening educational and technological information gap between rural youth and their urban counterparts in order to create an equal opportunity for all to access and succeed in institutions of higher learning. Hadebe is a national business speaker and Brand SA ambassador.”
Minty, who described the series as “wonderful”, added: “I always believed I have something to add that the show has not yet seen. I really want to encourage entrepreneurship, so we move young people from job seekers or job finders to job creators.
“I want young people to have the ability and knowledge to network and self-brand from primary school already, so that when they enter the business sector or the corporate sector, they have the skills needed to dominate.”
Asked what leadership skills he thought he possessed, he said: “I believe I have good decision-making abilities. I am also someone who can delegate well. I am a great listener and I tend to analyse options in extreme detail before making decisions. I also strongly advocate for the use of new technology and social media to create the impact required.
“I love networking and believe I am an ambassador for self-branding, which is needed to not only build value and confidence in your abilities but also allows doors to open for you in various sectors.
“I have some form of experience having led many councils at university level, also being an ex youth president of a political party.”
Minty said he hoped to improve his leadership skills through the series.
“I would like to develop and grow as an individual. I would like to gain the necessary exposure to progress towards my end goals. I would also like to show the public what young people can do when they have the ambition to impact society positively. I want to be groomed into a future leader.”
He said his family had watched the first episode together, while he was in the One Day Leader house, where he would remain throughout the season. Meanwhile, he had watched the series with the rest of the contestants.
Minty, a motivational speaker, contributes articles based on politics, law and business as well as current events nationally and globally for an online news agency.
He also made the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans under 35 list two years ago in the politics category.
Minty also wrote the book Empire about youth and their mindset.