Rabia Mayet | rabiamaye@radioislam.co.za

26 October 2026

3-minute read

As South Africans prepare to cast their ballots in local government elections on November 4^th, the big question is that of how citizens can hold elected representatives accountable and ensure that democracy is delivered beyond election day.

William Bird of Moxii Africa spoke to Ml Sulaimaan Ravat on the role of citizens, media and civil society in strengthening democratic participation and keeping those in power answerable to the public.

“Now is the best time to find out what they’re promising and keep a record of that,” says William. It is the time to have politicians, who usually “disappear and evaporate just after the elections” listen to what people, even those in distant rural communities, have to say. It is time to know who the politicians are, ask them the hard questions on what they stand for, and find out what practical step they plan to put in place once they do come into power.

To ensure that local government is living up to the promises they make, and to hold them accountable, William emphasizes that it is “really critical” that we make it known to politicians that “they can’t just come and feed us nonsense.”

William advocates for residents of wards to use technology more effectively and in an organised manner. Residents must be “actively engaged” in hot issues that are happening in their communities and mobilise around those issues. Form a community WhatsApp groups to put out polls to track how often your community is without power or water, which potholes are being filled, which community centres are in disrepair, and even Islamophobic comments by councillors; thereby creating an “evidence base” to challenge the officials on.

While you may not win every battle, you will have clear proof of the issues at hand and the relevant councillors’ responses, so that if nothing is being done, you will have the evidence to escalate the issues to higher authorities to get “some level of action.” Furthermore, it justifies community protests around unresolved service delivery problems and holds those on the campaign trail to account, particularly when they accuse the community of misrepresentation.

Williams mentions that it is every councillor’s responsibility to uphold the constitution that encourages “dignity and equality for all.”

So, what power do voters have between elections? Structures and laws may not have worked in the interest of the people, with “epic and catastrophic and ongoing failures,” despite people complaining. William states that good governance should not be undermined – people in power should be voted in on skill, integrity and capacity, and not because they are “the friend of my friend” or because they are from a particular political party.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and William Bird here.