We are in a new era | The Daily Friend election analysis
In today’s livestream, Hermann Pretorius, Terence Corrigan and Nicholas Lorimer examine the results of the 2026 local government elections. Will Helen Zille become mayor of
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The business of bringing back the dead
The woolly mammoth roamed the Earth until about 4,000 years ago. It may be coming back. No, let me be more accurate – it is certainly coming back, although precisely what comes back, and when, is another matter. The original
Renegotiating practical politics in SA through federalisation
This past Monday, 2 November, I took on a new role as the founding Head of the AfriForum Institute for Federalism, while retaining functions in the Free Market Foundation. Yesterday, millions went to the polls hoping to choose a better
The ballot and the broken tap: why local elections are really about whether government still works
South Africans are not merely choosing councillors in the 2026 local government elections. They are passing judgment on whether the layer of government closest to their homes can still perform its most basic duty: delivering water, electricity, safety, roads and
Why I vote, despite it all
The stroll to my voting station was anything but pleasant. Johannesburg’s decay was evident every step of the way as I walked down what remained of the pavement alongside Alamein Road, the main road connecting the southern suburbs of Robertsham
Live election tracker: LGE 2026
Good day! With the majority of voting districts declared, attention turns to early coalition discussions among political parties. We'll keep you updated as this unfolds. 11:49 The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has its first victory in the bag. It won
For the doubters: best bet is DA on both ballots
This morning I will vote DA on both ballots, as I am convinced that the party can do a better job than any other in running the city. I broadly support most DA positions, but in this election, it is
Voting should be a celebration, not a chore
Even for those of us who care deeply about democracy and believe that voting is the most powerful single action we can take to make life better for all South Africans, voting can feel like a chore. But it need
Which coalition arrangements work the best?
Many political analysts and pollsters expect between 100 and 130 municipal councils to be hung after South Africa’s local government elections. The following tables show two categories of municipalities with coalition agreements. The first list is of municipalities singled out