uSpiked's Public Service Announcement

You have probably heard people say that politics is boring, complicated, or something that only matters when national elections come around. The truth is quite different.

More than 90 years ago, American journalist Byron Price memorialised the phrase “All politics is local.” As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, those words have never been more relevant especially for Generation Z.

The roads you travel on, the water that comes out of your taps, the condition of your local clinic, the collection of waste in your neighbourhood, and the safety of your community are not decisions made somewhere far away in Pretoria. They are largely determined by your local municipality.

That means local elections are not just about politics. They are about your everyday life.

One of the biggest threats to democracy today is voter apathy; the belief that voting does not make a difference. During the 2021 Local Government Elections, only 12.3 million of South Africa’s 26.2 million registered voters cast their ballots, resulting in a turnout of just 46.9% compared to the 2019 General Elections that had documented turnout of 66%.

For a country with so many challenges and so much potential, that number should concern us all.

While some of the low turnout may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic just a year earlier, there is no excuse for disengagement in 2026. If young people want better opportunities, stronger communities, and leaders who understand their realities, they must participate in the democratic process.

The good news is that many young South Africans have already taken the first step by registering to vote. But registration alone is not enough. Real change happens when registered voters show up on election day and make their votes count.

Young people often hear that they are the “leaders of tomorrow.” But when exactly does tomorrow arrive? uSpiked believes, that tomorrow is now!

If you are old enough to vote, you are surely old enough to influence the direction of your community. If you are trusted to choose leaders, you should also be trusted to become one. South Africa needs more young people in decision-making spaces; people who understand the challenges of unemployment, digital transformation, education, entrepreneurship, and the realities facing today's youth. And not to sit back and wait to join some street protests when services are not being delivered.

This is not about voting because someone tells you to. It is about recognising that your future is shaped by the decisions made today.

That is why uSpiked is launching the All Politics Is Local series. uSpiked will be stepping beyond major cities and engaging directly with young people and communities in rural areas across every province. Our goal is to amplify local voices, spotlight overlooked issues, and ensure that stories from every corner of South Africa become part of the national conversation. Though may appear contradictory, the rural voters' issues may not want their issues drowned in a national discourse, but uSpiked envisions an environment where service deliveries are uniformly assessed. 

Too often, rural communities are spoken to instead of being listened to. We want to change that.

The future of South Africa will not be decided by politicians alone. It will be shaped by citizens who choose to participate, speak up, and hold leaders accountable. Or better still become a leader yourself.

The question is simple: if you want change in your community, are you prepared to be part of making it happen?

Because all politics is local, and your voice deserves to be heard. uSpiked is revambing its news Team by recruing younger journalists to be part of this great series. If you are interested, send your CV and a single page motivation telling us about yourself to the Manager. In the subjectline, insert the Province where you are based. uSpiked is an equal opportunity outlet.