THE CHIEF WHIP OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE URGES POLITICAL PARTIES TO ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING LOCAL ELECTIONS

31 July 2026

Honourable Blessed Gwala, the Chief of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, has called on all political parties to inform the populace of the significance of taking part in the next local government elections.

Speaking at the legislature’s voter education activation in Mdoni Municipality today, Gwala stated that political parties’ voter education efforts would increase participation and strengthen democracy.

He said that the legislature was running voter education programmes around the province to get communities ready for the elections as part of the institution’s responsibility to include residents in democratic processes. The campaigns are conducted in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and the Independent Electoral Commission, and they have already been conducted in nine districts.

Gwala continued, “Even though our voter education campaign led by our Speaker, Honourable Nontembeko Boyce, has had a huge effect since we started in August last year, we also ask all political parties to inform people of the value of exercising their democratic right to pick leaders who will represent them in municipalities. We will be able to stop voter apathy with more voter education efforts.”

Additionally, Gwala urged those who had not yet registered to vote to do so this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, which is the IEC’s final voter registration weekend.

The legislature’s remaining two voter education activations will be held in Harry Gwala and Umgungundlovu.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL COMMUNICATION UNIT