ANALYSIS: Joburg election posters — the good, the bad and the embarrassing
With so much of Johannesburg falling apart, it is astounding how few of the parties contesting for votes there focus on local issues in their election posters. The posters reveal how many of them cannot articulate a message that will resonate with voters in the major battleground of this election.
Joburg's election posters showcase the various political parties' efforts to connect with voters through their messages. However, many of these posters fall short in addressing local issues and candidates. The African National Congress (ANC) primarily uses slogans like "Vote ANC" or "Let’s Continue Building Better Communities Together," featuring President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will only lead the party for a short period. This poster suggests a lack of clear messaging and internal party strife.
The uMkhonto Wesizwe party employs similar slogans, such as "We’re Taking Municipalities" and "Bring Back our Municipalities," while focusing on Jacob Zuma's image. This connection to Zuma's era, infamous for state capture, may evoke negative emotions in voters.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) posters often prominently display Julius Malema's face, paired with a slogan like "Victory or Death." This apocalyptic tone, however, lacks a local message.
Action SA, based in Gauteng, stands out with Herman Mashaba's image and the phrase "Let's do it Again." However, it remains unclear if voters will remember Mashaba fondly, given his resignation from the DA's mayoral seat in 2021 and his presidential bid's failure.
The Progressive Alliance of South Africa (PAC) in Joburg's Sandton area focuses on reclaiming land, employing an image of Mzwanele Nyhontso and the slogan "Reclaim our Land." This ties the party's leader to his national role in land policy.
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and Rise Mzansi political parties utilize former leaders Pieter Groenewald and Songezo Zibi, respectively, on posters with slogans like "Dis Tyd" or "Dis Ons Tyd." Critics argue that these messages could evoke racial undertones reminiscent of apartheid-era politics.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Joburg concentrates on local issues in its posters, linking to Helen Zille's leadership. Slogans like "Get Joburg Working for All" and "Get Joburg Working Again" demonstrate the party's substantial investment in suburban Joburg.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
