The FW de Klerk Foundation calls for peaceful local government elections and condemns violence and intimidation against candidates, campaigners and voters. Every citizen must be able to exercise their constitutional political rights freely and without fear. Political leaders, law enforcement and voters all have a role to play in protecting free, fair and peaceful elections.
The FW de Klerk Foundation marks International Day of Political Prisoners by reaffirming the fundamental right to peaceful political expression. South Africa’s own history underscores the importance of protecting people from arbitrary detention, political repression and punishment for dissent. The Foundation calls for independent courts, impartial law enforcement and consistent advocacy for those imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights.
The way public money is managed has a direct impact on household finances, particularly when failing services force residents to pay again for alternatives. The FW de Klerk Foundation’s “Your Vote. Your Wallet.” infographic highlights the link between informed voting, accountable government and the everyday cost of service delivery. South Africans are encouraged to look beyond election promises, scrutinise municipal performance and remain engaged after casting their votes.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy, but it is not unlimited. The SAHRC v Malema case highlights where the law draws the line between protected political speech and hate speech, offering important lessons for politicians, voters and constitutional democracy.
Data from international indices—including the OECD, Eurostat, PwC, and the World Bank—demonstrate that South Africans are subjected to a double financial burden through high taxes and private service costs.
The ongoing crime crisis in South Africa, and particularly in Cape Town, has led to a constructive debate about the role and powers of municipal police services. While the South African Police Service (SAPS) is increasingly struggling to combat organized crime and violence effectively, the City of Cape Town has taken steps to establish its own investigative capacity.
The Local Government Report Card 2026 provides an independent assessment of 50 municipalities across all nine provinces, measuring performance against five pillars of constitutional local government. The findings reveal a sharply uneven picture, with strong institutional leadership and sound financial management consistently linked to better service delivery and public accountability. By presenting clear evidence of what works, what fails and where improvement is possible, the Report Card equips residents, councillors and policymakers to demand practical, measurable change.
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s Local Government Report Card 2026 argues that municipal failure is not inevitable, but the result of identifiable institutional weaknesses that can be measured and addressed. Assessing 50 municipalities against 100 objective tests, the report highlights where local government is improving, where it is failing and what distinguishes high-performing municipalities from those in decline. It offers practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen constitutional governance, improve service delivery and make municipal recovery measurable.
South Africa is modernising the voting process through online registration, mobile tools and accessible election information. But after voters elect municipal councils, many still struggle to access clear, reliable information about service delivery, budgets, complaints and audit findings. This article argues that the 2026 local government elections must be about more than voting: Municipalities must open up, report back and account.
