South Africans born after 1994 are commonly referred to as "born-frees": they never experienced apartheid.
Next year many will be eligible to vote, but there are fears this generation is disappointingly apathetic.
In the town of Vosloorus, the teens were 'born-free', and it shows.
Many participate in what's known as 'Scotana': it's part game, part lifestyle and part culture.
Expensive clothes and dancing give status and symbolise wealth: something most here don't actually have.
“You gain respect from it, you know. If you've got expensive clothes like me people say 'this man is a boss'. Everybody just wants to be like you”, says scotana leader Thula Sizwe.
His clothes and accessories cost more than a month's wages in their town of Vosloorus, where unemployment exceeds 50 percent.
Commentator Phillip De Wet says the born-frees are celebrating the freedom that was fought for, but he has concerns with how they're expressing it.
“What they chose to do with it is spend it in a fashion that is blatantly consumerist”, he tells SBS.
De Wet says "Scotana" is symptomatic of a disturbing reluctance to engage politically among many born-frees, all the more confronting in the context of South Africa's history.
“During the struggle generations, it was young people who really pushed the struggle forward”, he says.
It's estimated more than two million so-called “born-frees” will be eligible to vote in next year's national elections.
But many in this community say they'll refuse to take up that opportunity.
"Maybe I might change my mind but I don't want to vote at all", says Seipati Masia.
Masia says the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has failed her generation.
“They don't do anything. They are sitting at home. There's no opportunities. I don't see any reasons for us to vote ANC”, she tells SBS.
But a few streets away at church, aspiring pilot Nkosinathi NgCakniI sees next year's ballot as an opportunity and privilege.
“I want to vote. I want to know what it feels like to vote and be part of that because I want South Africa to be a better place”, he says.
While Scotana may be cult-like in these communities, it could also be a fad.
In at least some cases there's a level of engagement beneath the bling and the "swag".
Thula Sizwe says he plans to vote for the ANC: “It's a good party and I'm going to go with it. They're good leaders for us”.
