Mixed views among SA youth on LGE
The IEC has confirmed its readiness for the elections and continues to encourage youth to vote
South Africa is preparing for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) on November 4th. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has emphasized the importance of voter participation, particularly among young South Africans. SABC News interviewed students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) regarding their plans to vote in the upcoming elections.
According to the IEC, 694,882 young citizens aged 18 to 19 are registered to vote in the 2026 LGE, representing a new generation of voters. The IEC encourages this generation to make their first election count. While some students expressed enthusiasm and confidence in participating in the elections, others have voiced their intention not to vote.
One student explained that she would not be voting due to a perceived lack of change and accused political parties of only providing services during election periods.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.