Opinion piece by Errol Naidoo; Family Policy Institute
In 15 days, millions of voters will head to the polls to elect their local government representatives. A majority of citizens will cast their ballots in the desperate hope that good governance will significantly improve basic service delivery for them and their families.
Many voters consider the Municipal Elections less important than the National General Elections. However, the dire lack of basic service delivery significantly impacts on our daily lives – more directly than national politics. The growing water crisis proves this point.
However, whether you and I cast ballots in the National General Elections or the Municipal Elections, our responsibility before God remains the same. Christians are commanded by God to be “salt and light” in society. The Christian Church must be a force for good in SA.
The vote is just one tool available to Christian citizens to bring about positive change by enabling efficient and honest governance in the nation. The fact that most municipalities are bankrupt and lie in ruin indicate that many voters still vote according to past allegiances and not current realities. Influential Christian leaders must help point this out.
Voting for a political party is an extension of the Christian citizen’s hopes and aspirations for the nation. If you and I long to see honest and efficient governance at every level in SA, we must elect honest, competent and proven people into positions of authority.
People often ask me which political party to vote for. My response remains the same. Vote your values! Vote for the party that best reflects or is closest to your values. The ANC crime network and MK, EFF cults are not worth considering. Their records speak for itself.
Over the past few months, I viewed interviews of the leaders of the various political parties contesting the Municipal Elections and read through Election Manifestos. The ANC basically repeats the empty promises of past Elections – which they consistently fail to fulfil.
Smaller parties with proven track records of good co- governance must be given a chance. In contrast, parties with proven track records of corruption, tender fraud, money laundering, racketeering and mismanagement of state resources – must be rejected at the polls.
Voters must evaluate the promises of political parties against their track record of actual governance. The ANC’s record of governance in municipalities across SA is nothing short of catastrophic. The ANC criminal network destroyed and bankrupted entire municipalities.
Various surveys indicate the majority of citizens eligible to vote on 4 November will probably stay at home. Most voters have lost faith in SA’s democratic system and see no point in voting. This means a minority (not majority) of voters will determine SA future governance.
Your vote will determine the integrity of local government and cannot be taken lightly. Christian citizens, therefore, must not ignore their duty to God to effect positive change. Vote your values – value your vote. Citizens who abstain actually endorse the status quo.
Please ensure you vote in the Municipal Elections on 4 November. But more importantly, vote your values for positive change in South Africa. You may not find the perfect party that ticks all your boxes. Vote for the party closest to your values. Pray, vote, stand for South Africa.
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Date published: 20/10/2026
Feature image: Sourced from Magnific – for illustration purposes only.
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