LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Slovo Park could be a Joburg success, but residents have lost hope in elections
Ten years after a historic court victory, Slovo Park is still waiting for the future it was promised. Can the informal settlement’s residents still believe in election promises?
In 2016, Slovo Park, an informal settlement in Johannesburg, achieved a significant legal victory when the Johannesburg High Court ordered in-situ upgrading of the area. This meant that residents would be able to develop their settlement rather than being relocated outside the city. Tshediso Moses Poshodi, a 35-year-old resident at that time, vividly remembers the courtroom scene, where the announcement of the historic ruling brought tears and cheers.
However, despite the promise of transformation, a decade has passed and Slovo Park remains largely unchanged. The community is still grappling with poor infrastructure, waste management issues, and lack of basic services. As the 2026 local elections approach, many residents are disillusioned and have lost hope in the political promises made by various parties.
Political affiliations have shifted, with some switching to different parties, only to find them equally ineffective. The youth, in particular, are disconnected from politics, seeing little reason to vote given the ongoing lack of progress.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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