CHANGE MAKER: Young people are Jozi’s new gold
Student leader Melusi Khumalo sees youth participation as key to Johannesburg’s inner-city revival.
A young leader in Johannesburg envisions inner-city revitalisation driven by student participation. Melusi Khumalo, head of the Jozi My Jozi student chapter, believes youth involvement is crucial for the city's transformation. Khumalo, a UJ graduate with a focus on public policy, sees young people as the city's "new gold" in need of active engagement.
Khumalo's journey began when he joined Jozi My Jozi, where he witnessed students sign a pledge supporting the city. Encouraged by his brother Cebolenkosi, a UJ student leader, Khumalo engaged with the movement. He later met Jozi My Jozi CEO Innocent Mabusela, who invited him to collaborate on student outreach at the Human Rights Festival in March 2025.
The partnership led to a formal student chapter agreement including UJ, Wits University, and the Maharishi Invincibility Institute. Over 3,000 students have since joined, participating in city-wide initiatives like clean-ups, Mandela Day activities, and a homelessness count.
Khumalo spearheads the "Vilakazi Street of Academics" initiative to transform the UJ-Wits corridor into a safe, vibrant space. By addressing concerns over crime and environmental neglect, the project aims to foster civic pride and collaboration between universities and surrounding communities. Khumalo emphasizes that his university work aligns seamlessly with Jozi My Jozi's mission, creating a ripple effect of positive change in Johannesburg.
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