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, Matjhabeng is the point of focus. The Free State municipality is a remnant from the glory days of gold. But a thriving economy has been laid waste, with massive debt, parlous infrastructure and abysmal finances. The election will be an unpredictable race, but the municipality seems destined for a hung council — suggesting the stability that’s crucial for recovery may elude it.