I have no idea why, but I was nervous about this year’s local government election outcome. The knots in my stomach kept getting tighter as I tried to talk myself through it. Eventually, I summoned the courage to switch on the radio and Google the IEC’s live election results. To my surprise, I had every reason to be nervous and I have since been trying to process the outcome.

The 4th of November 2026, following South Africa’s local government elections, has left many South Africans, particularly on social media, in shock. Some celebrated their victories, while others were left disheartened. 

Social Media Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story

We are conditioned to believe that conversations about civic participation on social media will translate into voter turnout. However, conversations online are just that: conversations. There is a world that exists beyond our screens, one inhabited by people facing real challenges. 

Social media has millions of users, but the numbers we see online do not necessarily represent active, authentic or engaged citizens. The presence of fake profiles and accounts that exist primarily to increase online activity or engage in trolling further complicates how we interpret online conversations. 

Our responsibility as active social media users is to use our platforms to share our lived experiences and, in doing so, shape conversations. However, sharing lived experiences does not automatically translate into increased voter participation. 

Educating our communities about voter participation is a process that requires patience, consistency and trust-building. Taking into account our history in South Africa, trust  cannot  be built solely on likes, comments and reshares.

Social Media Has Exposed the Myth of the Rainbow Nation

The beginning of local government election campaigns resurfaced conversations about the state of South Africa. Through social media posts, vivid pictures of how communities look and function were brought to our attention. Honest conversations about the root causes of the state of our nation emerged and questions of governance took centre stage.

At the heart of the election conversations on social media, we also witnessed many South Africans openly sharing their lived realities across different provinces. From the streets of affluent areas in Cape Town to the informal settlements of Khayelitsha, we see a country divided under the guise of a Rainbow Nation. Widening inequalities, inadequate service delivery and poor governance systems continue to shape the experiences of many communities.

What we learn from these local government elections is that social media experiences and conversations helped shape discussions about voting. However, shaping conversations does not necessarily translate into improved voter turnout. 

When conversations are shaped, they create awareness about the importance of voting. But awareness is not equivalent to voters heading out to the polls.

Beyond Awareness: Turning Civic Participation into Action 

As a collective, we must recognise the need to educate our communities not only about using their voices but also about holding the government accountable. 

Social media can help guide us through the experiences of others and expose us to realities beyond our immediate environments. However, we cannot draw conclusions about an entire society or rely on online engagements to achieve better electoral outcomes. 

What we can do is use social media to shape conversations about how we vote, create more learning opportunities around voter participation and continue sharing our lived realities.

Let us use the lessons from South Africa’s 2026 local government elections to rebuild our communities and ultimately, our country.

Botlhale Insights article: https://botlhaleafrika.co.za/2026/08/17/botlhale-insights-the-voters-are-not-on-your-timeline/ 

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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