The Hot Topic: Ask councillors what they have done before voting in 2026
As political parties prepare to campaign ahead of the local government elections, voters should judge councillors on their five-year record rather than promises made at election time.
It is that time again – when loyal members of political parties dust off their party regalia, hit the streets and knock on doors, hoping to win over you, the voter who has spent years frustrated and wondering why the rates and taxes being paid do not seem to match the level of service delivery promised.
They will come armed with charm, campaign slogans and, in many cases, the same promises we have heard before.
They will tell us that this time things will be different, that service delivery will improve and that they are the people who can fix what is broken.
Some will do so with such conviction and political polish that you could almost forget that we have heard it all before.
It is also the time when some local councillors suddenly become visible again – particularly those who have barely been seen or heard from since the 2021 local government elections.
Suddenly, the potholes become an election issue. Broken streetlights, water shortages, power outages, refuse collection problems, sewer leaks, leaking pipes and poor road workmanship that have caused months, if not years, of frustration are rediscovered.
The irony is that many of these problems are not new. Councillors have known about them for years.
Residents have reported them, complained about them and, in some cases, pleaded for intervention. Yet some issues appear to receive renewed attention only when votes are up for grabs.
With just 60 days to go before the 2026 local government elections (Novmber 4), the political propaganda machinery is slowly shifting into gear.
Parties are preparing their campaigns, candidates are introducing themselves to communities, and residents are once again being asked to listen to promises of better service delivery, safer communities and a better quality of life.
There will be new faces hoping to enter the political arena, some genuinely motivated by a desire to serve their communities. But inevitably, there will also be those who see politics as an opportunity to secure a council seat – and the salary and benefits that come with it.
And then there are those already sitting in council who will be doing everything possible to remain there.
This is where voters need to be particularly careful.
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For the next 60 days, residents can expect political parties and candidates to tell them why they deserve their vote.
But perhaps residents should turn the question around. What have you actually done for us since 2021?
Where were you when residents were struggling with water outages?
Where were you when roads deteriorated, sewage spilt into streets, and electricity problems became a daily frustration? Where were you when residents needed their councillors to knock on the doors of municipal officials and demand answers?
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Where were you when residents were repeatedly told that their complaints had been logged, only to find themselves still waiting months later?
Because being a councillor is not a job that should suddenly become visible when an election is approaching.
A councillor’s responsibility does not begin when the campaign posters go up and end when the ballot boxes are packed away.
For five years, councillors have had the opportunity to represent their communities, raise concerns, demand accountability and fight for better service delivery.
So, don’t judge councillors by what they promise in the 60 days before an election. Judge them by what they did during the five years they had the opportunity to serve.
The power, ultimately, lies with you – the voter.
This time, it should not matter what colour the political party wears. It should not matter which party has the biggest posters, the loudest campaign or the slickest slogans. What should matter is whether your community works.
Can you turn on the tap and expect water to come out? Are the streetlights working? Is refuse collected? Are potholes and sewer leaks dealt with? And when they are not, is your councillor there to fight for you and demand answers?
Those are the things that should matter when you stand in that voting booth. Certainly not politicians appearing on your doorstep every five years telling you what they will do, while forgetting to tell you what they have already done.
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This time, make them account for their record.
The power is in your hands. Look beyond the colour of the party shirt and ask the question that matters: has my community actually been better served?
Because you are not voting for a colour. You are voting for a functional community, better services and a better quality of life.
