Local government is where politics gets real — your water, roads, rates, rubbish and electricity. But how much do we actually understand about the people and systems running our municipalities?
In a podcast brought to you by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, journalist Nickolaus Bauer cuts through the jargon, political noise and municipal mythology in South Africa’s Easy Elections Guide: Local Government 2026.
In this episode, he zooms in on ZF Mgcawu district municipality in the Northern Cape. It’s an administration that stands out in South Africa for the mere fact that it’s not in a state of collapse. With viticulture, livestock, agriculture, tourism, logistics and renewable energy resources, it’s also an area of great potential. It’s likely the ANC will be returned to power — but will its relative competence in the municipality match the region’s economic potential?