{
  "id": 20107986,
  "title": "LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Politicians’ egos and ideological hang-ups no longer win votes in SA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/local-elections-2026-politicians-egos-and-ideological-hang-ups-no",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T03:46:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-15-politicians-egos-and-ideological-hang-ups-no-longer-win-votes-in-sa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zimbabwe's former vice president Simon Muzenda's political style, known for his eccentric remarks and strong disciplinarian demeanor, has lost its sway in recent elections. Once a respected figure in the liberation struggle, Muzenda's political fortunes waned as voters grew weary of his tactics. His most infamous comments came during the 2000 parliamentary elections when he urged Zanu-PF parliamentarians to vote for him, even if that meant supporting a less suitable candidate. This approach backfired as it alienated constituents who preferred to vote for candidates who aligned with their own preferences.\n\nIn the 2026 local government elections in neighboring South Africa, the political equivalent of Muzenda's style is embodied by ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe. After a disastrous performance in the 2026 elections, Mantashe's comments further exposed the ANC's continued disregard for its voters' demands for good governance and service delivery. Mantashe's remarks about urban and rural voters reflect the party's issue with voter preferences, believing that rural voters are more accepting and less demanding. This attitude is reflected in the party's continued poor performance in cities and metros.\n\nVoters, however, signaled a shift in their priorities by crossing party lines, supporting newcomers, and rejecting identity politics. Their message was clear: the next five years in local government must focus on governance, service delivery, and rejecting corruption. Various provinces, such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng, saw voters embracing parties with questionable governance records, but this was not indicative of the majority's preferences. Most voters rejected the parties that left them in the doldrums and demanded better governance. While all parties are focused on the upcoming 2029 general election, the ANC's leadership is better positioned to adapt to the changing political landscape and address voters' core concerns.",
  "summary": "The elections showed that voters are increasingly willing to abandon their old loyalties, forcing all political parties to rethink their approach to an electorate that is demanding better governance.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The shift toward governance and service delivery signals a permanent move away from identity politics, forcing established parties to prioritize practical results over traditional ideological or regional loyalties.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}