Electoral Commission of South Africa officials painted a sobering picture last week when they briefed MPs on preparations for the 4 November local elections.
South Africa faces the “most challenging and tough” pre-electoral climate in the last 30 years, they said. Trust in the national government has collapsed to 19%. Trust in local government stands at 18%. Trust in political parties has fallen to 11%.
Yet beneath this disillusionment lies something more hopeful, says Boichoko Ditlhake, Head of the Civil Society Programme at Kagiso Trust. Almost two in three (62%) South Africans still believe voting is a national duty. And 64% say they will vote if political parties show responsiveness and service delivery improves.
“This tells us that disengagement is not apathy,” says Ditlhake. “It’s disappointment. It’s broken promises. But it’s also a signal that the key place for voters to have their say is where service delivery has the greatest impact: in your city, town or community.”
That is why Kagiso Trust is urging voters to re-engage with active citizenship during voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June.
“Registering to vote is a symbolic act,” says Ditlhake. “It says you are ready to play your part in changing things for the better. But it also lays a building block for the future of your community, because it empowers you to make an important choice in November.”
How does voter registration change things?
Voter registration is an entry point into sustained civic participation, says Ditlhake. “You can begin holding your municipality accountable long before election day through ward committees, municipal forums, and direct engagement with councillors and political parties. For them, your vote is the ultimate prize.”
The elections are a key moment in an ongoing cycle, but they only have meaning if you take part. “Before voting, you can prepare by registering and arming yourself with information,” says Ditlhake. “During voting, you then make an informed choice. After voting, you have the right to hold elected representatives accountable, monitor service delivery and mobilise around local issues.”
Citizens often feel powerless, but everyone can start where they are, says Ditlhake. “Registering to vote is a key step, and Kagiso Trust is encouraged that 376,140 South Africans used the IEC online registration system between January and May,” he says.
“But there are other ways to be an active citizen. Whether the issue is water, waste, electricity, housing or roads, you can identify it, report it, speak to neighbours, ask questions, and follow up with your ward councillor and municipality.
“One person reporting a pothole might get ignored. Ten people reporting the same pothole with photos, dates and reference numbers will force action.”
Who should register to vote, and how?
Voter registration weekend takes place on Saturday 20 June and Sunday 21 June. Between 8am and 5pm, nearly 24,000 registration stations will be open across 4,488 municipal wards.
If you are a citizens aged 18 and over, you can:
- Register online at https://registertovote.elections.org.za.
- Register by taking your identity document to the nearest registration station.
- Verify your details if you are already registered and check that your voting district is correct. You can only vote at the station where you’re registered.
- Find your voting station at https://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/.
What’s next for active citizenship?
“The November elections will not fix everything,” Ditlhake acknowledges. “But voter registration weekend is an invitation to start.
“Start where you are. Start with one issue. Start with your neighbours. That is how communities build power to shape local government – and that is how trust gets rebuilt.”