Botlhale Insights: We Owe It to Ourselves: Reimagining Our Democracy

My childhood was shaped by politics, and I cannot run from my truth. Two decades ago, I vividly remember being woken up to go to school. As I got ready, the television would be on in the background, with Morning Live on SABC 2 tracking the votes across the provinces. My parents would tell us that the African National Congress (ANC) was ahead of all the other political parties. 

At the time, we would rejoice because “the people’s” liberation party was winning the elections. For South Africans, it meant that change was about to happen and it was liberating. It was liberating in a sense that we could  begin to see the small changes that  our parents had not been exposed to: the freedom to attend multiracial schools, live anywhere and have access to various career opportunities. 

Even when the changes became visible, it  was evident that more needed to be done. It was not enough; it was just the beginning. 

The beginning of a democracy that needed to be rewritten and reimagined for South Africans. This is because democracy for Black South Africans had been shaped by laws designed to exclude and segregate them. Holistically, segregation was used as a mechanism to limit Black South Africans’ access to resources, facilities and opportunities. 

As we reimagine life for Black South Africans after 1994, one would expect that transformation had taken place. Instead, what we witness is that small changes have remained small, while inequality gaps have widened. The promises made through “policies” have often fallen short of implementation. 

A wave of disillusionment and hopelessness looms over the nation because we are mourning unfulfilled promises. 

The wounds surface every time we walk the streets of our nation. 

The growing potholes, power outages, unemployment and poverty are a few of the daily reminders that, while we achieved a political victory, many Black South Africans continue to struggle economically.

So as we gear up for the 2026 local government elections, may we find the courage to use our power as voters to vote for change. 

We are the locals and the local government is directly connected to our everyday lives. We cannot turn a blind eye to these local elections because we use the same roads riddled with  massive potholes.  Therefore, it is crucial to use the local government elections as an opportunity to change the communities we live in. 

This is our time to take responsibility for the future generations of South Africa. 

We owe it to ourselves, as locals, to mark our ballots. 

We owe it to ourselves to hold our government accountable for the many unfulfilled promises because our voices matter. 

We owe it to ourselves to rewrite and reimagine our democracy as one filled with hope.

Let us go and vote!

Phiwe Mncwabe is a Communications & Public Engagement Writer, Pan-African storyteller, and Founder of Botlhale Hub Afrika. She is also a fellow of Fray College’s Newsroom Leadership Programme. Her work explores governance, leadership, public policy, and African affairs through research-informed storytelling that encourages thoughtful public dialogue.

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