Elections 2026
How is your municipality doing?
We are doing in depth reports on municipalities across the country ahead of the 2026 local elections.
Elections 2026: Blunders in Mangaung are poisoning Free State water
While the municipality loses billions, sewage flows into rivers and residents struggle for water
Feature | 1 September 2026
Young people stay home on voters day
Fewer young people are registering and turning out to vote
Chart by The Outlier. Text by GroundUp Staff.
Charts | 31 July 2026
Residents lay criminal charges against Theewaterskloof over illegal waste dump
Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs says the municipality ignored a formal directive to remedy the situation
By Rasaad Adams
Brief | 29 July 2026
National Treasury to unfreeze funds to municipalities
But finance minister warns that some municipalities are “not off the hook”
By Liezl Human
Brief | 28 July 2026
Elections 2026: Dawid Kruiper Municipality battling water leaks and sewage spills
The Special Investigating Unit is looking into “allegations of serious maladministration” involving 24 contracts at the municipality
By Liezl Human
Feature | 23 July 2026
Tswaing municipality staff have been months without pay
Only the highest-earning workers have been paid since April
By Seth Thorne
News | 22 July 2026
Elections 2026: Amahlathi municipality is doing better on paper but residents yet to see the benefits
Infrastructure projects grind to a halt
By Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Steve Kretzmann
Feature | 22 July 2026
Time to pay up: a look at municipal debt
More than R161-billion owed for electricity, water and taxes
Chart by The Outlier. Text by GroundUp Staff.
Charts | 17 July 2026
Pietermaritzburg’s R1-billion transport flop
No buses operate on Msunduzi Municipality’s failed public transport system
News | 13 July 2026