VIDEO: Poll Dancing: Watch Politically Aweh’s elections comedy special before you vote
KG Mokgadi wants to be your mayor. That’s how bad things have got. In Poll Dancing, Politically Aweh’s live elections comedy special, you can learn everything you need to know before 4 November: how your ballot works, who’s funding the parties, what the polls say, and one deeply regrettable AI pole dance.
Politically Aweh, a comedian running for mayor, hosted a live elections comedy special called "Poll Dancing" before South Africa's local elections on November 4th. The show, filmed in Cape Town, covered everything voters need to know, including how your ballot works and who's funding the political parties. The event featured stand-up performances from other comedians and guests from Daily Maverick.
The hosts noted that this campaign has been cheaper than previous ones, with parties relying on bots and paid influencers instead of traditional methods like music videos and statues. KG, the host, believes he has significantly influenced this election, even announcing his own mayoral campaign with a plan to end service delivery crises by eliminating service delivery altogether.
The show also addressed the issue of funding for political parties. Donors could previously give parties millions of rands in secret, but after a 2021 law change, donations over R200,000 must be disclosed, with a new cap of R30 million per donor annually. The hosts discussed which parties have disclosed virtually no funding and the current state of the elections.
Polling data showed that young voters feel unrepresented and are looking for alternative ways to engage in politics. This has led to a fragmented voting landscape, with no clear majority in many metros. Cape Town's housing crisis was also discussed, with soaring property prices and an influx of Airbnb listings causing calls for rent control. However, developers argue that such measures could worsen housing shortages.
The panelists also touched on disinformation tactics used in the election, with examples of how easily misleading statements can spread online. They advised voters to verify information before sharing it and offered general voting advice. Comedians Yaaseen Barnes, Lindy Johnson, and Dillan Oliphant each delivered their signature humor with political and social commentary. KG concluded by emphasizing the importance of active citizenship and the need for South Africans to work for democracy.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
