Governance
latest news & developments
A historic election for South Africa
Fed up with widespread service delivery failures and unstable municipal coalitions, millions of South Africans took to the polls in a pivotal local government election defined by…
15.9 million voters reshape local politics as coalitions loom
Voter turnout rebounded to 15.9 million in the 2026 local government elections, driven by middle-class frustration over service delivery failures as preliminary results point to…
Beyond the X lies a constitutional promise
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka examines the constitutional mandate of local government, calling on coalition leaders and municipal officials to move past factional politics and…
Sharing power is easy; governing is hard
As South African municipalities grapple with water crises and unstable leadership, coalition governance faces a crucial test: moving beyond survival politics toward transparent,…
The vote was never the whole of freedom
Following local government elections, South Africa faces the critical task of translating the vote into municipal accountability, ethical governance, and sustained civic…
A moment in history
Reflecting on her granddaughter’s mock school election, Professor Thuli Madonsela examines why local government is the vital frontline of democracy, social justice, and ethical…
The culture of mediocrity ends
An analysis of widespread municipal underperformance in South Africa reveals deep systemic failures in capital budget spending, infrastructure maintenance, and governance,…
The ballot box is only the beginning
South Africa’s local elections present a crucial test of electoral integrity and democratic resilience, demonstrating whether declining support for ruling parties can coexist…
When hunger knocked, we answered. Will our leaders do the same?
Reflecting on frontline food relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sello Hatang outlines crucial lessons on compassion, dignity, and anti-corruption for South Africa's incoming…
UCT weighs sanctions over ‘Islamist control’ claims
The University of Cape Town is considering disciplinary action against council members Mark Oppenheimer and David Ansara after an inquiry by retired judge Mahomed Navsa rejected…
DA wins back uMngeni by an increased majority, makes inroads in key KZN municipalities
The Democratic Alliance has secured a decisive victory in KwaZulu-Natal's uMngeni local municipality, retaining control with over 60% of the vote share.
A meagre 12 million people cast ballots as vote counting commences after 9pm
Preliminary figures from the Electoral Commission of South Africa show that approximately 12 million voters cast their ballots by 5pm in the 2026 local government elections, with…
Ballot shortages and technical glitches disrupt voting as frustrated residents are turned away
Voting was disrupted across several stations due to technical glitches, missing ballots, and voters roll errors, leading to long delays and rising tensions.
What is the point of voting?: Ivory Park Extension 2 youth lose faith in the ballot
Disillusioned by persistent water shortages and persistent unemployment, young residents in Ivory Park Extension 2 say voting no longer feels meaningful.
Two KZN voting stations closed, ballot papers stolen – IEC
The IEC has introduced strict verification protocols after ballot papers and a security stamp were stolen in eThekwini, while severe weather has left voting stations cut off in…