Local government elections will be marked by disillusionment, IEC says (opens original article in a new tab)

The IEC reports high levels of disillusionment and low trust in political institutions ahead of the November 2026 local government elections, with declining voter turnout and widespread dissatisfaction with democratic functioning.

• IEC survey shows high levels of pessimism and disengagement ahead of November 2026 local elections
• Widespread disillusionment with political leadership leads to demands for authoritarian governance
• Trust in political institutions like government and parliament has declined to historic lows
• Voter turnout has dropped from 58% in 2016 to 46% in 2021