Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

20 October 2026

2-minute read

Northern KwaZulu Natal is facing a crowded political field for the upcoming local government elections in November.

“It’s almost a party award now,” says journalist Calvin Swemmer of the 33 parties contesting in 36 wards in Newcastle. Previous administration that has governed the town include the ANC some years back that was later fragmented out into a coalition with other parties like the DA, ActionSA, and the IFP.

Swemmer calls the number of newcomers on the political field “innate.” Many civic organisations and forums have decided to go against the grain and “shift from their civic duties,” claiming that they will be able to do better than the current leadership. Statistically, in 2021, there were about 95 thousand candidates countrywide, and now that number has jumped to over 135 thousand candidates.

In the context of choice, this adds to choice but it also adds to confusion. “33 parties does not mean 33 good choices,” Calvin points out. Many of the local candidates do not have a clear – or in some case any – manifesto, are unemployed, and are far from qualified to run a municipality, having “never worked a day in their life.” He highlights that candidates who are stepping into the political field minus a manifesto are setting a bad precedent and will not be able to canvas votes.

So, what should voters in Newcastle do before the elections? Calvin suggests going onto the IEC website and looking at candidates to get clarity before voting. If the party you are considering voting for cannot be located on the website, he advises contacting the party directly to find out their mission statement, and to get some background on the candidate and what he or she stands for. “Considering the implications of your decision, it’s work that needs to be done,” he concludes.

Listen to the full inteview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Calvin Swemmer here.