As South Africa prepares for the local government elections on November 4, 2026, voters are being bombarded with slogans and posters from the 620 registered political parties. However, these campaigns have been criticized for being dull and uninspiring, failing to capture the attention of potential voters. The elections are seen as crucial, with over 137,000 candidates vying for 10,500 council seats. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has registered over 754,000 new voters, with 46% of them under the age of 29.
The IEC has done a professional job in preparing for the elections, but the same cannot be said for the political parties' slogans. Historically, effective slogans have been used to great success, such as Britain's "Labour isn't working" or Bill Clinton's "It's the economy, stupid." In contrast, the current crop of slogans has been met with disappointment. The Freedom Front Plus's "It's time" or "It's our time" has been described as unremarkable, while the ANC's "2026: The Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government, Create Jobs and Transform the Economy" has been criticized for being vague and unconvincing.
The ANC's slogan is particularly noteworthy, given the party's 32-year history of failed promises. The party's "A better life for all" slogan has been widely used, but its latest iteration has failed to inspire confidence. The Democratic Alliance's (DA) slogan, "Stop the chaos. Start service delivery," has been seen as somewhat impersonal, despite Helen Zille's energetic campaigning in Johannesburg.
Other parties have also launched their campaigns, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) proclaiming "Victory or Death." However, this slogan has been criticized for being ambiguous and potentially violent. The EFF's popularity has been growing, with the latest eNCA MarkData poll showing the party at 11.9% nationally and 6.5% in Cape Town.
In contrast, ActionSA's slogan, "Gatvol? Let us fix it," has been praised for being colloquial, strong, and having personality. This slogan has been seen as a standout in a sea of bland and uninspiring campaigns. The local government elections are seen as crucial, with many municipalities struggling with corruption and poor service delivery.
The elections will see coalitions forming and falling, with parties vying for seats and influence in local governments. The outcome will be closely watched, as it may have significant implications for the country's politics and governance. The IEC has reported that only 39 of 257 municipalities had clean audits in the latest Auditor-General report.
The upcoming elections are a chance for voters to hold parties accountable for their performance and to push for change. With many voters disillusioned with politics, particularly among the young and unemployed, the elections will be an important test of the country's democratic processes. The IEC's efforts to register new voters, particularly among young people and women, have been seen as positive steps.
Key points
- The ANC's slogan has been criticized for being vague and unconvincing, given the party's 32-year history of failed promises.
- ActionSA's slogan has been praised for being colloquial, strong, and having personality.
- The local government elections are seen as crucial, with many municipalities struggling with corruption and poor service delivery.
