A civil society organisation has welcomed renewed efforts by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to increase voter participation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, while announcing its own intervention aimed at strengthening accountability at municipal level.
Civic Root Advocacy issued a statement on Tuesday praising the IEC’s latest outreach strategies, unveiled during a logo reveal event held in Midrand. The organisation described the Commission’s plans, including a forthcoming television series on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and a dedicated podcast, as a timely and necessary step toward deepening democratic engagement.
The initiatives are expected to target young voters in particular, a demographic that has shown declining turnout in recent elections. Civic Root Advocacy said such platforms could play a critical role in making electoral processes more accessible and relatable.
At the same time, the organisation announced it will roll out its Local Democracy Accountability (LDA) Initiative in April, focusing on communities in the North West Province. The programme aims to address persistently low voter turnout and strengthen public oversight of local government.
The North West recorded the lowest voter participation in the 2021 municipal elections, falling well below the national average. According to Civic Root Advocacy, this trend reflects growing public disillusionment with local governance and a disconnect between communities and decision-making processes.
Municipalities in the province have long struggled with governance challenges, including financial mismanagement, infrastructure backlogs and ongoing service delivery failures. For many residents, interactions with local government are often shaped by service disruptions rather than meaningful engagement.
Civic Root Advocacy said a key barrier to participation is the lack of accessible information. Complex documents such as municipal budgets, audit reports and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) are often difficult for ordinary citizens to interpret, limiting their ability to hold leaders accountable.
The LDA Initiative seeks to bridge this gap by translating technical municipal data into simplified, user-friendly Citizen Scorecards. These tools will allow communities to better understand how their municipalities are performing and where improvements are needed.
In addition, the programme will host civic education workshops, facilitate public accountability dialogues and train 250 Civic Accountability Champions across selected municipalities. These individuals will play a grassroots role in promoting civic awareness and encouraging community participation.
The initiative will be implemented in several municipalities, including Rustenburg, Mahikeng and others identified as high priority due to governance challenges and low voter turnout.
A key feature of the programme will be the launch of a Municipality Promise Tracker — a public platform designed to monitor commitments made by political candidates in the run-up to the elections. The tool aims to improve transparency and ensure that campaign promises are documented and tracked over time.
Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director Siyabulela Jentile said strengthening participatory democracy requires more than just encouraging people to vote.
“Communities need practical tools and accessible information to engage meaningfully with governance processes,” he said. “This initiative is about empowering citizens to demand accountability and actively shape the future of their municipalities.”
With the 2026 Local Government Elections approaching, both the IEC and civil society organisations are placing renewed emphasis on rebuilding trust in democratic institutions. Observers say sustained collaboration between stakeholders will be critical in reversing declining voter turnout and fostering a more engaged electorate.
Civic Root Advocacy said its efforts are ultimately aimed at ensuring that citizens are not just voters, but active participants in shaping governance outcomes at local level.
