South Africa Votes: Can Local Elections Rebuild Trust?

South Africa's local government elections may be municipal contests, but the stakes are national. As South Africa prepares for its first nationwide electoral test since the ANC lost its parliamentary majority and entered coalition government at the national level, voters are weighing frustration over poor public services, coalition instability, and confidence in democratic institutions.  

In this episode of Into Africa, Oge Onubogu is joined by Daryl Swanepoel and Gemima Barlow to explore what is at stake in the elections, how electoral integrity and public trust are evolving, and what the results may reveal about the future of South African democracy. They also examine whether greater political competition can produce better governance, how disinformation is reshaping the electoral landscape, and why these local elections matter far beyond South Africa's borders.