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As South Africans head to voting stations across the country on 20 and 21 June for the official voter registration weekend ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, ActionSA calls on every eligible citizen, particularly young people, to seize this opportunity and register to vote.

This year marks 50 years since the historic 1976 Youth Uprising. Yet five decades later, millions of young South Africans remain trapped in unemployment, poverty, crime, failing infrastructure, and municipalities that have abandoned their constitutional responsibility to serve residents.

The uncomfortable reality is that while the youth of 1976 fought for freedom and opportunity, many young people today are still fighting for jobs, for dignity, for reliable water and electricity, for safe communities, and for a government that listens.

In many respects, young people face a crisis deeper than the one imagined fifty years ago. We are fighting against a system that is unwilling to listen, unwilling to reform, and unwilling to create meaningful opportunities for the very generation that will inherit this country.

The truth is simple: if we do not participate in the electoral process, we cannot change the outcomes we continue to experience.

It is only when citizens register and vote that we can replace failing governments with leaders who are committed to fixing our municipalities and restoring service delivery. It is only when residents of Johannesburg register to vote that they can elect leaders like Herman Mashaba to restore order, grow the economy, create jobs, tackle crime, and return South Africa’s economic powerhouse to its former glory.

It is only when residents of Tshwane register to vote that Nasiphi Moya can continue the work of stabilising the municipality, improving governance, restoring financial discipline, and building a capital city that works for all residents for the next five years.

It is only when residents of Cape Town register to vote that Dereleen James can champion meaningful economic inclusion for communities that have long been left behind, accelerate the delivery of dignified housing, and ensure that residents of the Cape Flats are no longer treated as an afterthought. For too long, many communities on the Cape Flats have endured high levels of crime, inadequate economic opportunities, and slow housing delivery while development remains concentrated in a few areas. Every resident deserves access to opportunity, safety, and a city government that serves all communities equally.

It is only when residents of Ekurhuleni register to vote that Xolani Khumalo can intensify the fight against illegal drugs that continue to destroy families and communities, restore basic service delivery, improve the cleanliness of our towns, and create safer neighbourhoods where residents can live, work, and raise their families with dignity. Ekurhuleni deserves leadership that prioritises functioning services, safer communities, and economic growth.

It is only when residents of the Nkangala District register to vote that Mary Phadi can champion infrastructure development, improve water and sanitation services, strengthen local economic development, and ensure that communities benefit from the district’s strategic position as one of South Africa’s key economic corridors. Nkangala residents deserve reliable services, accountable governance, and a municipality that creates opportunities for young people instead of forcing them to leave their communities in search of a better future.

It is only when residents of the Capricorn District register to vote that Victor Mothemela can fight corruption, improve access to reliable water and sanitation services, upgrade deteriorating roads and municipal infrastructure, and unlock economic opportunities across the district. Communities throughout Capricorn deserve a municipality that delivers services effectively, supports local economic growth, and ensures that public resources are used to benefit residents rather than politically connected individuals.

South Africa’s municipalities are in a dire state. Roads are collapsing, water infrastructure is failing, electricity networks are deteriorating, refuse remains uncollected, and communities are increasingly losing faith in local government.

But change is possible. That change begins with registration. This weekend, we call on every eligible South African to visit their nearest voting station and ensure that they are registered to vote, that their address details are correct, and that they are registered in the voting district where they intend to vote on 4 November 2026.

These elections must also mark the rise of a new generation of leadership. We want to see Moswa Paleng, young people stepping forward to occupy spaces of leadership in their communities, contesting elections, leading wards, and becoming active participants in shaping South Africa’s future.

For too long, young people have been told to wait their turn while unemployment rises, opportunities diminish, and decisions about their future are made without them. ActionSA rejects the notion that leadership is reserved for a select few. We believe young people must not only vote, but must also lead.

The future is not tomorrow. The future is now. It is time for young people to Khuphuka. It is time for young people to register to vote, participate in the democratic process, and take ownership of the future of their communities.

The future of our municipalities will not be decided by those who complain the loudest. It will be decided by those who show up. Fifty years after the youth of 1976 stood up and demanded a better future, this generation must do more than remember their sacrifice we must honour it through Action.

Issued by ActionSA Deputy President Dr Mbahare Kekana