THE LOWLY NEWSPAPERMAN: Daily issues beat nostalgia this election, but the ANC hasn’t read the room

In the 2026 election season, across various countries including South Africa, Brazil, Serbia, the US, Israel, Spain, Bangladesh, and Britain, citizens have expressed that this is the most consequential election in their history or in recent times. This sentiment echoes the rise of the right-wing in the UK, the fall of Viktor Orbán's autocratic regime in Hungary, the survival of democratic norms in Brazil, and the demonstration of people power in Bangladesh and Serbia.

South Africa, participating in the election next week after another consequential event, faces pressure from the US presidential race, where a Democratic Party victory could potentially curb Donald Trump's white supremacist agenda on both domestic and foreign fronts. Despite the ANC's nostalgic appeal based on the journey to democracy, their messaging failed in the 2024 election. The party continues to emphasize the strides made since then, but this message backfired.

The ANC's failure to read the room is evident in its inability to shift focus from past glories to current issues. Communities, in their grievances and protests, have made it clear that the ANC's past successes are not enough. The party has tried to redirect attention to its efforts to rectify the issues, blaming the Zuma years, but this strategy is not working.

The ANC's main challenge lies in the fact that the issues faced by the people are real and substantial. These include service delivery failures, such as lack of water, power, sanitation, and poor infrastructure that impact residents regardless of their economic status. The party's inability to address these everyday issues further exacerbates the situation.