“New research by the Institute for Security Studies finds that some young people in Ekurhuleni and eThekwini are turning away from voting because they feel political parties have failed to deliver jobs, reliable municipal services and meaningful representation. With local government elections scheduled for 4 November, the research highlights the risk that declining political trust could weaken participation and deepen public frustration unless elected leaders respond to young people’s everyday needs.”
South Africa’s Disillusioned Youth Challenge Political Leaders Ahead of Local Government Elections
South Africa faces a significant democratic challenge as the country approaches its local government elections on 4 November 2026. While political parties are campaigning for votes and presenting promises of improved services, employment opportunities and better municipal management, research published by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 27 October suggests that a section of the country’s young population is increasingly disconnected from formal politics. Their concerns extend beyond dissatisfaction with individual politicians to a broader question about whether democratic institutions can meaningfully improve their lives.
The findings offer an important perspective on public opinion at a time when political competition is intensifying. For many young South Africans, the problem is not necessarily a lack of interest in their communities or their country’s future. Rather, it is the belief that political participation has repeatedly failed to produce the changes they expect. This distinction matters because democratic participation depends not only on whether people can vote, but also on whether they believe their participation can influence decisions and outcomes.
Research reveals a growing disconnect between young people and politics
The ISS research draws on interviews conducted during September and October with 41 residents and community leaders from townships in Ekurhuleni and eThekwini. Most participants were between 18 and 35 years old. The interviews explored community engagement, social tensions and the relationship between residents and political institutions.
The findings suggest that some young people have become deeply frustrated with political parties and government systems. Participants described politicians who appear in communities during election campaigns, make ambitious promises and subsequently become difficult to reach. Such experiences can weaken public confidence, particularly among residents who have waited years for improvements in their circumstances.
The report also references a 2024 Human Sciences Research Council survey conducted for the Electoral Commission. According to the ISS account, 69% of young respondents believed their vote would not make a difference, while 78% believed political parties behaved similarly once elected. These figures indicate a serious challenge for political organisations seeking to build lasting relationships with younger voters.
However, the interview sample of 41 people should not be interpreted as a nationally representative measurement of all South African youth. Its value lies in documenting experiences and explaining possible reasons for disengagement, rather than establishing the precise proportion of young people who share these views nationwide.
Unemployment remains central to public dissatisfaction
Employment is one of the most important issues shaping young people’s perceptions of government performance. Education is often presented as a route towards economic independence, yet many young people struggle to find work after completing their studies.
The ISS report highlights an unemployed engineering graduate who has not registered to vote because he has seen little change despite his mother’s longstanding support for the same political party. His experience illustrates how disappointment can pass between generations when political loyalty does not appear to produce tangible benefits.
The report also cites a 2025 Afrobarometer survey indicating that 47% of young respondents were unemployed and seeking work, while 96% believed the government was failing to create jobs. These figures, as reported by the ISS, underscore the prominence of employment in public assessments of political leadership.
For political parties, the implications are considerable. Campaign messages about economic growth may have limited persuasive power when young people cannot see how national strategies translate into accessible jobs, apprenticeships or business opportunities in their neighbourhoods.
Young people need more than general assurances about future prosperity. They want credible pathways into employment, transparent recruitment processes, practical training and opportunities to establish sustainable businesses. Where these opportunities remain inaccessible, frustration can become a lasting judgement about the political system itself.
Municipal services influence confidence in democracy
Local government occupies a particularly important position in this debate because municipalities are responsible for services that directly affect everyday life. Water provision, roads, sanitation, waste collection, electricity infrastructure and local economic development all shape how residents experience government.
According to the ISS research, some young people feel that municipal authorities are absent from their lives or insufficiently concerned about their needs. This perception is especially damaging when residents believe that councillors are more interested in securing votes than maintaining meaningful relationships with communities.
The problem is therefore not limited to the quality of individual services. It also concerns accountability and recognition. Residents want officials who listen to complaints, explain decisions and communicate honestly about delays or resource constraints.
Public-opinion polling published by The Common Sense on 27 October provides wider context. Its summary of Social Research Foundation polling reports that 85% of respondents agreed that communities were increasingly taking on responsibilities that government had failed to fulfil. The same report found that 49% trusted private citizens and local businesses more than municipalities to deliver certain local services, compared with 45% who preferred municipalities.
These findings suggest that dissatisfaction may extend beyond younger voters. Nevertheless, the two research exercises have different methods and purposes, so their results should not be treated as interchangeable measurements.
Political disengagement does not mean community apathy
One of the most important insights in the ISS report is that disillusionment with political parties does not necessarily mean young people have abandoned public life.
Some interviewees remain active through community policing forums, care centres, health initiatives and other volunteer activities. Their willingness to contribute demonstrates that civic energy exists even where confidence in formal political institutions is weak.
This distinction challenges the assumption that young people who do not vote are simply indifferent to society. Some may be making a judgement that conventional political participation offers insufficient returns, while continuing to address problems directly through community organisations.
For municipal leaders, this presents an opportunity. Community volunteers possess local knowledge, practical experience and relationships that can help authorities identify problems and design effective responses. Instead of engaging these residents only during campaigns, councils could establish regular forums where young people help set priorities, monitor projects and evaluate service delivery.
Such engagement would not replace elections or elected representatives. Rather, it could strengthen the connection between formal democratic institutions and the communities they serve.
Immigration debates can redirect economic frustration
The research also examines how economic hardship and distrust can create opportunities for movements that offer immediate explanations for social problems.
In some communities, frustration about unemployment and competition for business opportunities has been directed towards foreign nationals. The report describes how anti-immigration mobilisation can appeal to young people who feel excluded from economic opportunities and believe established political parties have ignored their concerns.
However, blaming foreign nationals does not establish who is responsible for unemployment, crime or poor service delivery. These issues require evidence-based responses involving employment policy, effective municipal administration, fair law enforcement and appropriate immigration management.
The report warns that anger can be redirected towards visible groups without addressing the underlying conditions that produce insecurity. It also records concerns about violence and unsupported accusations against foreigners. Such dynamics can place vulnerable people at risk while distracting attention from the institutional and economic failures that communities want addressed.
Political leaders therefore face a responsibility to acknowledge genuine public concerns without encouraging scapegoating. Addressing competition for work and trading opportunities requires lawful, transparent policies that protect everyone’s rights and provide realistic economic pathways for local residents.
Election polling reveals a complicated political mood
The wider public-opinion environment makes youth disengagement particularly significant. The latest polling summary from The Common Sense, published on 27 October, places national support for the African National Congress at 32%, the Democratic Alliance at 26%, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party at 12% and the Economic Freedom Fighters at 8%. The report also describes substantial differences in party support across major metropolitan areas.
These figures suggest a competitive political environment in which established loyalties cannot be taken for granted. However, national party-support figures do not establish how many young people will vote or which parties they will choose.
Low participation among younger voters could nevertheless influence municipal outcomes, particularly where contests are close and governing arrangements depend on coalition negotiations. If young people stay away from polling stations, elected councils may have weaker incentives to prioritise their concerns.
Conversely, parties that establish credible relationships with younger communities could improve their public standing by demonstrating that their policies respond to practical needs rather than campaign calculations.
The key question is not simply which party can attract the most compelling slogans. It is which political organisations can demonstrate competence, honesty and consistent engagement after election day.
What political leaders can do to rebuild trust
Rebuilding confidence requires measurable commitments rather than broad promises. Municipalities and political parties could begin by publishing clear local employment and training opportunities, explaining how applicants qualify and reporting publicly on implementation.
Councils should also establish regular meetings with young residents and community organisations. These meetings need clear agendas, accessible information and documented follow-up actions. Consultation becomes meaningful when residents can see what officials have done with their recommendations.
Fair access to municipal contracts and business permits is another important priority. Young entrepreneurs need transparent procedures, predictable requirements and information about available opportunities. Where projects cannot proceed, authorities should explain the reasons rather than leave applicants without answers.
Service delivery must remain central. Reliable water, functioning sanitation, maintained roads and effective waste collection are tangible measures by which residents judge local administration. Councillors who communicate openly about problems and demonstrate progress can begin to rebuild confidence even when financial or technical constraints prevent immediate solutions.
Political parties should also create meaningful opportunities for younger candidates and organisers to participate in decision-making. Representation alone will not resolve structural problems, but young leaders with direct knowledge of community concerns can help ensure those issues receive sustained attention.
The democratic significance of the November election
South Africa’s local government elections will test more than the popularity of political parties. They will also reveal how effectively democratic institutions can respond to citizens who feel overlooked.
The ISS findings do not establish that all young South Africans reject voting, nor do they predict the election outcome. Instead, they identify a serious warning: when people repeatedly experience unmet expectations, political disengagement can become entrenched.
The challenge for elected representatives is to demonstrate that democracy offers practical ways to influence decisions and improve everyday life. That requires sustained engagement, responsible leadership and visible progress on employment and municipal services.
Young South Africans who remain active in their communities represent an important source of civic capacity. Political institutions can strengthen democracy by listening to these residents, involving them in local decision-making and responding to their priorities.
Ultimately, the credibility of the political system will depend on what happens after the campaigns end. If promises are followed by accountability and meaningful improvements, public confidence may recover. If residents continue to feel ignored, frustration could deepen beyond the November election.
The central message from the research is clear: young people’s distance from formal politics should not automatically be mistaken for indifference. It may instead reflect a demand for institutions that listen, deliver and treat their participation as valuable throughout the political cycle.
