Ward councillors are a critical cog in local government. They are accountable to their ward and to the municipal council. Councillors are meant to live in the areas that they serve in order to ensure that there is genuine understanding of the needs of the ward.

Ward councillors are a ...

In this blog, we take you through the basics of by-elections. You can use this blog as a useful guide in understanding the importance of by-elections in your community, and more broadly as an important element in the value chain of our democratic system.

What are by-elections?

A by-election is ...

Each province has a legislature, the size of which varies depending on the population levels in the province. According to the Constitution, the minimum size of a Legislature is 30 members and the maximum size is 80 members. Members are elected from provincial lists based on the number of votes ...

With the final results announced officially by the IEC on 2 June 2024, for the first time in South Africa, no single party won a mandate to govern. The ANC received a little over 6.4 million votes. This was followed by the DA and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new ...

An election manifesto serves as a blueprint, outlining the policies a political party pledges to enact if entrusted with power during a general election. Prior to an election, each political party releases an official manifesto, laying down the foundation for its campaign. These documents serve a pivotal function by articulating ...

How to participate in the upcoming elections.

The South African system of government is designed so that certain functions are exclusive (performed by one sphere only), while others are concurrent (shared between different spheres).

The Constitution divides functions among the three spheres of government and clearly distinguishes between exclusive and concurrent responsibilities. Concurrent functions include policy-making, legislation, ...

What is the State of the Province Address?

The State of the Province Address also known as SOPA is an annual address to the province by the Premier, which focuses on the current political and socio-economic state of the province and marks the official opening of the Provincial Legislature.

What ...

2024 Parliamentary Year

While the official opening of Parliament is next week, the parliamentary year has already commenced. MPs are attending summits, training and are busy with constituency and committee work.

Alongside this, political parties are maintaining a keen focus on the forthcoming election with many compiling candidate lists, holding ...

In the realm of democracy, coalition governments often emerge as a testament to the vibrant tapestry of political ideologies and citizen voices. These unique alliances of political parties bring a distinctive flavour to democratic systems worldwide, emphasising cooperation and compromise as essential pillars of governance.

One of the core strengths ...