The Federal Council chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Helen Zille posted showing herself wading through murky water on Balder Road in Douglasdale.
Image: X/@DAGauteng
As the countdown to the local government elections on November 4 begins, South African politicians are gearing up for a campaign season that promises to be equally bizarre and unpredictable.
Presidential proclamation of the date marks an official warm-up period, during which we can expect a flurry of unusual stunts meant to capture the attention and votes of the electorate.
Unusual stunts and photo shoots will take place. Politicians will travel to locations that many of us would not think they would. In an effort to win over voters, some will visit informal settlements, go to taxi ranks, speak at meetings, and dine out.
However, traditional tactics such as distributing party-branded T-shirts might not cut it this time around. Voter sentiment appears to have shifted. “We want jobs; we want food. We don’t have homes; we want clean water,” is the call that resonates in the hearts of many South Africans today.
In a nation grappling with severe challenges — including water shortages, rampant crime, escalating unemployment, a critical shortage of housing, and the questionable awarding of government contracts to politically connected individuals — politicians face an uphill battle.
Some candidates are already trying to get ahead of the curve. A prospective mayor recently launched her campaign with an eye-catching stunt: paddling an inflatable boat through a flooded Elias Motsoaledi Road in Dobsonville, Soweto, highlighting a persistent issue of lack of service delivery that continues to plague many communities.
Whether such daring attempts will resonate with potential voters remains to be seen. We've seen strange campaign strategies: a politician claiming that certain areas are objectively "better" for impoverished people than others.
One common tactic in political campaigns is for politicians to make extreme, often unverified claims about their opponents. Who knows, we might even witness babies being warmly cuddled and kissed by beaming candidates. It's all part of the game.
Ultimately, it is up to South Africans to determine their leaders at the ballot box. After five years, people are aware of the promises made in previous elections and the outcomes that followed. It is essential to rebuild our communities, and the authority to bring about this change lies with the people. The power is in the vote.
In June, voter registration will open. Let's register and work towards building our country.