Democracy Unplugged · Podcast Party

Local Government – Down but not out

·1 hr 19 min·3 clips
300 KZN councillors are illiterate and managing multi-million rand budgets—we need to depoliticize government appointments.
South African political debate featuring four party leaders (Patriotic Alliance, African Transformation Movement, Democratic Alliance, Build One South Africa) discussing local government elections. Core issue: service delivery failure across 84% of municipalities. Panelists debate coalition instability, political deployment of incompetent party loyalists, and voter turnout decline. Key revelation: skills audit shows 300 councillors are illiterate, yet manage multi-million budgets. Debate centers on professional standards, ethical leadership, and whether to give full power to single parties vs. coalitions.

As heard by us

A blunt look at who gets trusted to speak for a ward.

The panel keeps local government grounded in the practical question of who should carry a ward, and what that choice says about the party behind it.

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Why you'd press play

You want a grounded South African local-government debate, not party varnish.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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