YNews Elections Build-up | First-time Joburg voters call for greater transparency ahead of local elections

Some first-time voters in Johannesburg say they remain unclear about who is contesting in their communities ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, raising concerns about transparency and engagement with young voters.

YNews took to the streets of Johannesburg on Tuesday to hear from young and first time voters about what they expect from those seeking to represent them.

With political parties announcing their candidates for the November polls, young voters say they want greater visibility, accountability and direct engagement from those seeking to represent them at ward level.

Twenty-two-year-old first-time voter, Malusi Buchingi, says accountability and accessibility will be key considerations when he casts his ballot.

“To be honest, I would just like for them to be accountable. And I would like for them to host more ward meetings… so they can directly tell us what did they do, what have they achieved. I would like to see that every single year… because I couldn’t tell you who my councillor is that I’ve had so far.”

Buchingi says regular ward meetings would give residents an opportunity to hold representatives accountable and better understand what is being done in their communities.

For other young voters, limited engagement with candidates is making it difficult to know who they will ultimately be voting for.

Karabo Mahlangu says he does not believe he has enough information about the candidates contesting the elections, arguing that voters have had too little direct interaction with them.

“No, I don’t feel that I have enough information about the candidates because, as they were doing their local selection, we did not have that exclusivity interview with the person. And also the promises which they made, they were not clear what their aim was and how.”

Mahlangu, who is originally from Mpumalanga but currently studies at Wits University, says basic service delivery failures are among the key issues he wants the next local government administration to address.

He says his community has access to water only once a week, while waste collection remains inc0nsistent.

Buchingi says everyday challenges in Johannesburg, including pothole-riddled roads and high levels of crime, also directly affect his quality of life and will influence his decision at the ballot box.

With municipalities responsible for essential services including water, electricity, roads, refuse collection and housing, the young voters Ynews spoke to say they want leadership that is transparent, responsive and willing to engage directly with communities.

Their concerns come as the Electoral Commission continues efforts to boost youth participation ahead of the November elections.

More than 400-thousand young people aged between 16 and 29 accounted for 26 percent of all voter-registration transactions during the August registration weekend.

Across the two registration weekends, the IEC recorded more than 754-thousand new voters, while more than 2.1 million new voters have been added to the voters’ roll since the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

However, registration among the youngest eligible voters remains a concern.

Ahead of the June registration weekend, the IEC said more than 70 percent of 18- and 19-year-olds had not yet registered to vote.

As the November 4 polls draw closer, YNews will continue speaking to ordinary South Africans about the issues shaping their choices, what they expect from local government and whether they feel sufficiently informed about the candidates seeking their votes.

GET YOUR DATES RIGHT! | SPECIAL VOTES

Do you know when special voting takes place?

Special voting for the 2026 LGE will take place on 2 and 3 November 2026, 08:00 to 17:00 ahead of Election Day on 4 November 2026, when voting will take place from 07:00 to 21:00. #LGE2026 pic.twitter.com/71kWqk2tum

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) September 28, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe