As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, the Active Citizens Movement (ACM) poses a fundamental question: PARTY OR PEOPLE? WHO DO OUR COUNCILLORS REALLY SERVE? The ACM Local Government Subcommittee challenges voters to look beyond party loyalty, interrogate past performance and election promises, and demand integrity, competence and accountability from those seeking public office. It reminds us that democracy does not end at the ballot box and that our votes are our power. The question is not simply who wins, but who they serve.
Local government elections must be about accountability, not blind political loyalty. Councillors must answer to the communities that elect them, not simply the parties that nominate them.
When communities go without water, sewage flows through residential streets, potholes remain unrepaired and refuse piles up, an uncomfortable question that demands an answer is: Who does your councillor really serve, the political party or the people who elected them?
This question should be central to South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE). Every five years, political parties make promises, candidates seek votes and communities are assured that their concerns will receive attention. Yet, once elected, too many councillors become inaccessible, leaving residents struggling to obtain answers about failing services.
The result is growing frustration, declining public confidence and a widening distance between citizens and those entrusted with public office.
The true test of democracy is not simply whether elections are free and fair. It is whether elected representatives remain accountable between elections.
A councillor represents the people, not merely a party; political parties are essential to representative democracy. They organise political participation, nominate candidates and present competing programmes. However, party loyalty must never override the public interest.
A councillor may be nominated by a political party, but once elected, that councillor assumes constitutional and legal responsibilities to the municipality and its residents.
What happens when party instructions conflict with the community’s interests? What happens when residents demand accountability for service delivery failures, but councillors are reluctant to criticise municipalities governed by their own parties?
A councillor’s first obligation must be to the Constitution and the people, not unquestioning obedience to party leadership. Party discipline cannot justify corruption, incompetence, secrecy or neglect of communities.
Once elected, the candidate or PR councillor must serve all their constituents, irrespective of who they voted for. Democracy requires that elected officials promote unity within their constituencies, not perpetuate division and discord.
Crisis:
The crisis is visible in our streets. Local government directly affects people’s daily lives. Its performance is measured through reliable water and electricity, functioning sanitation systems, well-maintained roads, refuse collection and safe public spaces.
Yet, deteriorating infrastructure, sewage pollution, unreliable services, corruption and poor governance remain realities across many South African municipalities. These failures undermine human dignity, public health and economic opportunities.
Despite this, election campaigns frequently produce ambitious promises without credible budgets, implementation plans or measurable deadlines.
Promises to repair infrastructure, create employment, eliminate corruption and transform municipalities may sound attractive. But voters must ask: How would these commitments be funded? Who would implement them? What are the deadlines? How would progress be measured?
An election promise without a credible plan, budget and measurable outcome risks becoming little more than a slogan.
Each election should, first and foremost, require an interrogation of what the party or candidate promised previously and the extent to which those promises were fulfilled.
Against this background, the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), a non-partisan civil society organisation committed to constitutional democracy, human rights, social justice and accountable governance, has launched its LGE 2026 manifesto statement of values and voter information guide.
The launch followed a public discussion on democracy and the forthcoming elections, hosted by ACM with IEC Commissioner Judge Dhaya Pillay.
Our objective is to encourage voters to look beyond party colours, personalities and slogans, and critically assess candidates’ integrity, competence, values and track records.
The information pack contains three practical resources.
Our manifesto and statement of values outlines principles that should guide public leadership. These include constitutional supremacy, human dignity, non-discrimination, ethical governance, accountability, social justice and service to communities.
It rejects corruption, racism, xenophobia, discrimination, violence and the deliberate spread of misinformation as incompatible with responsible leadership.
The candidate scorecard provides a practical framework for assessing candidates.
It encourages voters to examine integrity and accountability, community engagement, service delivery competence, commitment to combating corruption and upholding the rule of law, and respect for human rights and environmental responsibility.
Has the candidate demonstrated honesty? Are they accessible? Do they understand municipal responsibilities and finances? Have they served their community? Will they challenge corruption, including within their own party?
Most importantly, will they put community interests ahead of political convenience? The Scorecard does not tell citizens who to vote for. It helps them make informed decisions.
Third, the guide explains the municipal electoral system, including ward and proportional representation (PR) councillors.
In the big metros, voters receive two ballot papers. The ward ballot elects an individual councillor representing a geographical community. The PR ballot allows voters to choose a political party, contributing to the allocation of proportional representation seats.
In local municipalities outside metropolitan areas, voters ordinarily receive three ballots, additionally one for party representation on the district council.
Understanding these arrangements helps citizens appreciate how votes translate into council representation.
Ward councillors have identifiable geographical constituencies, while PR councillors enter councils through party lists. Both exercise public responsibilities and must be accountable.
Proportional representation must never become a shield against public scrutiny.
South Africans fought hard for the right to vote. However, meaningful democracy requires more than placing a cross on a ballot paper every five years.
Citizens must participate in ward committees, community meetings, Integrated Development Plan consultations and municipal budget processes. They must monitor service delivery, scrutinise expenditure and insist on regular feedback from councillors.
Accountability must also have consequences.
Where councillors neglect their responsibilities, political parties must be pressed to act. Where corruption or unlawful conduct is suspected, appropriate oversight and law-enforcement institutions must investigate.
Communities should assess representatives fairly, regardless of political affiliation, recognising integrity and competence while challenging poor performance.
Taking voter education into our communities
ACM will distribute its manifesto, statement of values, candidate scorecard and voter information materials through social media, members, supporters, community organisations and civil society partners.
We encourage citizens to share these resources, initiate community discussions and question candidates about their commitments.
ACM welcomes collaboration with organisations committed to free and fair elections, constitutional democracy and an accountable local government.
We remain independent of political parties and do not endorse any party or independent candidate. Our purpose is to equip citizens with the information needed to make their own electoral choices.
At a time when corruption, disinformation, intolerance and declining confidence in democratic institutions threaten our constitutional democracy, active citizenship is essential.
The ultimate question: Party or people?
As the elections approach, voters must move beyond asking which party they should support.
They should also ask: Who will represent our interests? Who possesses the integrity and competence to serve? Who will challenge corruption? Who will listen when services fail? Who will account for public money? Who will stand with communities when doing so becomes politically inconvenient? And, having been elected previously, have they fulfilled their promises?
These questions must be asked before elections and repeatedly thereafter.
Election to public office is not a five-year licence to disregard the electorate. It is a mandate carrying responsibilities and an obligation to be accountable to the public. Political parties may nominate candidates, but the people confer the democratic mandate.
Our message is simple: Interrogate promises. Scrutinise candidates. Demand accountability. Make informed choices. Remain engaged. The real question is not only who wins the election.
It is who the winners will serve. Never forget that elected officials are in their positions because of our votes. That is our power. The elections should not be an occasion to surrender that power to representatives who do not serve our best interests, but to reclaim that power and use it to vote wisely.
ACM Local Government Subcommittee