As South Africa prepares for its local government elections on November 4, citizens are being urged to look beyond campaign promises and assess whether candidates have the capacity to recognise failure, rethink old assumptions, build trust, and deliver responsible change. The country's democratic institutions remain in place, but they are under strain. The real challenge lies in addressing the crisis of ordering, which refers to the processes through which a society makes decisions, allocates resources, resolves conflict, establishes legitimacy, and adjusts to changing circumstances.
Chris Jones, in an article published by the Mail & Guardian on October 30, 2026, argues that South Africa's problem is not simply a crisis of order, but rather a crisis of ordering. The country's constitutional institutions are in place, but the real challenge lies in addressing the underlying issues that affect the daily lives of citizens. Jones identifies several key areas that voters should consider when evaluating candidates, including the capacity to recognise reality, interpret what is happening, and coordinate efforts to address complex problems.
One of the key areas that voters should focus on is the capacity of candidates to recognise reality. This involves acknowledging the problems that exist, such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality, and taking steps to address them. Jones argues that South Africa does not lack information about its problems, but rather the ability to act on that information. He cites the example of a leaking water system that becomes something people simply learn to live with, rather than taking action to fix it.
Another important area is the capacity of candidates to interpret what is happening. This involves understanding the complexities of the problems that exist and developing effective solutions. Jones notes that South Africans disagree profoundly about how to understand the country's problems, and that political disagreement is not necessarily a sign of democratic failure. However, established political movements face a danger in becoming too attached to old explanations and interpretations.
The capacity to coordinate efforts is also crucial, particularly in addressing complex problems that cut across different departments, municipalities, and portfolios. Jones argues that many of South Africa's problems do not fit neatly into one area, and that coordination is essential to developing effective solutions. This requires candidates to work across institutional, political, and ideological boundaries to address the needs of citizens.
Establishing legitimacy is also an important consideration for voters. Jones argues that political authority and legitimacy are not the same thing, and that legitimacy must be renewed through performance, accountability, and responsiveness to citizens' lived experience. This is particularly important at the local level, where citizens interact with municipal officials and experience democracy firsthand.
Finally, Jones identifies the capacity to adapt and be reflexive as essential qualities for candidates. This involves being able to learn from crises, change course, and critically evaluate one's own responses. He argues that these capacities require more than competence, and that they are essential for developing effective solutions to the country's complex problems.
Key points
- Voters should look for candidates who can recognise failure, rethink old assumptions, and deliver responsible change.
- Candidates should be able to interpret what is happening, coordinate efforts, and establish legitimacy.
- The capacity to adapt and be reflexive is essential for addressing complex problems.
