Hopes for 2026: South Africans reflect on the New Year
2026 brings along wishes of hope
Image: Leon Lestrade/Independent Newspapers
As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was ushered in, celebrations across the country were marked not only by fireworks and family gatherings, but by quiet reflections about the year ahead.
For many South Africans, the turning of the year is less about resolutions and more about hope for stability, opportunity and meaningful change, both personally and within their communities.
In Hanover Park, 50-year-old Yolande Abrahams said her wish for 2026 is firmly rooted in the daily realities faced by those around her.
“To help those who don’t have. The struggle is real in Hanover Park,” she said.
For Abrahams, the new year is not about personal gain, but collective upliftment. “It’s not a wish for myself, it’s a wish for my community. More jobs, and now that matriculants are done writing, employment opportunities for them.”
Her words echo the concerns of many communities where unemployment continues to weigh heavily on households, particularly among the youth. As 2026 begins, hopes are pinned on economic recovery translating into tangible opportunities on the ground.
Yolande Abrahams
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
In Heideveld, 63-year-old Badroedien Dixon reflected on how the past continues to shape his hopes for the future.
He recalls a formative moment from his school years, when a visit to Robben Island left a lasting impression.
“When I was in high school, we went to Robben Island and I met Mandela,” Dixon said. “I remember he told the group that we must establish SRCs at every school.”
That message, he said, sparked action.
“We listened and followed through, and today SRCs are still a thing.”
For Dixon, that legacy of youth leadership is something he hopes to see reignited.
“My wish for 2026 is that the youth has the same drive we did back then, that they grow hungry to try and make a change where they can, and a positive one.”
On a personal level, Dixon’s goals are simple but profound.
“For myself, I only wish for health and spiritual growth,” he said, underscoring how priorities often shift with time.
Badroedien Dixon
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Damian Atties
Image: Supplied
Meanwhile, in Mitchells Plain, 32-year-old Damian Atties is focused on growth across several areas of his life.
“To grow in terms of my career, to grow financially, spiritually and to learn new skills,” he said. Atties is intentional about how he approaches his goals, choosing to keep some close to his chest. “I do not wish to disclose all of them as yet. I believe if you disclose goals prematurely, it can create room for error or diversion.”
Beyond personal ambition, Atties is driven by a vision for youth development in his community. He hopes to create a platform where underprivileged children, whether they already skate or not, can receive support.
“This is especially for kids in Mitchells Plain and the Cape Flats,” he explained. “It’s about keeping them off the streets and keeping them busy.”
Adding to the chorus of hopes ushering in 2026, voices from across different generations and towns reflect a shared longing for personal growth, family and a better future for those who come next.
Simone Mervyn
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
35-year-old Simone Mervyn said the new year represents an opportunity for inner change and service to others.
Her wish for 2026 is rooted in self-improvement with a broader purpose. Mervyn said she hopes to become a better person, not only for herself, but so that she can be of greater help to those around her.
Central to her dreams for the year ahead is starting a family.
“I dream of becoming a mother this year,” she said, describing a hope that blends personal fulfilment with the desire to nurture and give.
At 87 years old, Sally Fredericks from Factreton offers a perspective shaped by decades of lived experience. Her wishes for 2026 are not centred on herself, but firmly on the generations that follow. “I don’t have a lot of wishes for myself,” Fredericks said.
“But for the generation, that there doesn’t have to be struggle for them to achieve what they dream of.”
Fredericks’ hopes extend beyond material success, touching on deeper social healing. “Above all, I wish for the chains of stronghold to be broken over our communities,” she said.