As the local government elections approach, political parties in Johannesburg are using creative posters to convey their messages to voters. The posters, which line the streets of the city, reveal the parties' strategies and priorities. From the ANC to the EFF, each party's poster has a unique design and slogan. The posters are an essential part of the parties' campaigns, allowing them to communicate directly with voters.
The ANC's posters feature President Cyril Ramaphosa and the slogan "Vote ANC" or "Let's Continue Building Better Communities Together". However, the posters lack a clear message that resonates with local voters. The party's internal strife and lack of strong leadership candidates are also reflected in the posters. In contrast, the uMkhonto Wesizwe party's posters feature Jacob Zuma and the slogans "We're Taking Municipalities" or "Bring Back our Municipalities".
The EFF's posters feature Julius Malema and the slogan "Victory or Death", which appears to be an attempt to cast the local election in apocalyptic terms. However, the posters lack a local message, despite the party's Joburg mayoral candidate, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, being relatively well-known. Action SA's posters, on the other hand, feature Herman Mashaba and the phrase "Let's do it Again", referring to his time as mayor from 2016.
Action SA's posters are remarkable for their focus on the party's Joburg mayoral candidate. However, it's unclear if voters will have fond memories of Mashaba's time as mayor. Mashaba's willingness to take up a seat in the legislature only if he can have the top job is also a concern. In Tshwane, Action SA posters refer specifically to their mayoral candidate, Nasiphi Moya, with the message "Five More Years".
The PAC's main election poster features its leader, Mzwanele Nyhontso, with the slogan "Reclaim our Land". As the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Nyhontso is technically in charge of land policy in South Africa. The FF+ posters feature an image of their former leader, Pieter Groenewald, with their current leader Corné Mulder, and the slogan "Dis Tyd" or "Dis Ons Tyd".
The FF+ posters may have a sinister undertone, reminding some voters of when white people made all the important governance decisions. Rise Mzansi appears to have posters of both its national leader, Songezo Zibi, and others of its Joburg candidate, Lukhona Mnguni. The DA's posters in Joburg focus almost entirely on the community, with slogans such as "Get Joburg Working for All" and "Get Joburg Working Again".
The DA's strategy, which includes deploying national figure Helen Zille to the metro, appears to be paying off. The party has been able to spend more resources in suburban Joburg than other parties, reaching more voters as a result. However, critics argue that the DA's lack of local candidates and Zille's relatively mature age may be concerns. Build One SA's posters, which feature leader Mmusi Maimane and the party's Joburg candidate Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, offer the most nuanced messaging among all the posters.
Key points
- Johannesburg election posters reveal parties' varying strategies and priorities.
- ANC and EFF posters lack clear local messages, while DA and Build One SA posters focus on local issues.
- Posters reflect parties' internal strife and leadership concerns.
