Article
SA youth should study Charlie Kirk’s legacy
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
I’M writing this week’s column in deep anguish. The assassination of Charlie Kirk—famed American conservative and founder of Turning Point USA—is the most painful episode I’ve experienced this year – honestly speaking. Millions around the world feel the same. His death is not just a tragedy; it’s a seismic blow to the global conservative movement that I am part of. I believe it ranks among the most significant political events of the past 50 years.
It’s a stark reminder of life’s fragility. Everything can change in a moment. Life can end in a moment.
I had followed Charlie’s work for years. He was one of the most gifted conservatives I knew—charismatic, articulate, and capable of drawing enormous crowds. Very few people possess that kind of talent and magnetism.
What cannot be disputed is Charlie’s unwavering commitment to free speech. He didn’t just talk about it—he lived it. His campus tours across America were a testament to his belief in open dialogue. In robust debate. He was an avid debater who sought out his critics, believing that engaging with opposing views was vital to a healthy democracy.
His assassination has wounded America deeply. There will be no replacement for Charlie. He was unique—a devout and sensible Christian who loved his country.
Though I’ve met only a handful of American intellectuals and influencers, I never had the chance to meet Charlie. His account followed me on X, as it did thousands of others. He was a great man for sure.
If you’ve followed my work, you know I advocate for strong families, free markets, law and order, and personal responsibility. My book, Lessons from Past Heroes, champions these values. Charlie believed in them too. These are the values South Africa desperately needs in 2025 and beyond.
Our country is in crisis—rampant crime, a fatherlessness epidemic, excessive state intervention in the economy, and collapsing marriage rates.
The data is clear: domestic violence is higher among cohabiting couples, poverty is more prevalent in single-parent households, and children growing up without fathers face greater risks of criminality and teenage pregnancy. Families are the bedrock of societal stability.
Milton Friedman once said we are not an individual society—we are a family society. Families form the critical foundational structure of a nation. Charlie understood this and promoted it passionately. His message wasn’t new—it echoed timeless truths.
Speaking after Charlie’s assassination, British author and journalist Douglas Murray, noted that the values Charlie championed were widely accepted not long ago. Today, stating that there are only two genders invites vilification. We have people celebrating Charlie’s death, branding him a racist and distorting his views. It’s disturbing.
Charlie also defended gun rights—standard conservative views rooted in the U.S. Constitution. I’m also a defender of gun rights.
Despite having had guns pointed at me more than once in Johannesburg, I remain a firm supporter of the right to self-defence. Yet some voices on the left suggest that if I were shot tomorrow, it would be justified—simply because I support gun rights. That’s sickening.
Celebrating Charlie’s death because he was shot and supported gun rights is grotesque. Gun rights, like any issue, deserve debate. But to imply that holding a different view on gun control laws warrants death is inhumane. It reveals the moral decay in parts of our society.
Charlie was a key ally of President Trump and played an instrumental role in Trump’s victory last year. President Trump has lost one of his most important supporters.
Trump announced that he will posthumously honour Charlie with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I strongly endorse this decision. At just 31 years old, Charlie was exceptionally talented, and I firmly believe he would have earned this prestigious award in the future.
South African youth should study Charlie’s legacy. Turning Point USA promotes values our country urgently needs. Our youth come from broken families and face a 62% unemployment rate—the highest in the world. We need more Charlie Kirks. If we succeed in cultivating such leaders, South Africa will be a far better place.
Rest in Peace, Charlie. You were a giant. PM
This article was first published on Politicsweb.co.za. Buy Phumlani’s book Lessons from Past Heroes here, and subscribe to his YouTube channel here.
© PHUMLANI M. MAJOZI