Comedy special covers election basics

Politically Aweh's Poll Dancing, filmed at the Homecoming Centre in District Six on 21 October, teaches voters how ballots work, who funds parties, what polls show and includes stand-up from comedians Yaaseen Barnes, Dillan Oliphant…

Hosts promise neutral coverage

Stephen Horn promised the show would not tell anyone how to vote and kept his word. Co-hosts KG Mokgadi and Zoë Human were joined by podcaster Dan Corder and Daily Maverick reporter Naledi Mashishi.

“we're not going to tell anyone how to vote”

Campaign spending has shrunk

The hosts noted this campaign feels cheaper than previous ones. Parties now rely mostly on bots and paid influencers rather than music videos and statues. KG calls it election shrinkflation.

“election shrinkflation”

Party funding rules have loosened

The Political Party Funding Act of 2021 required disclosure of donations. But rules have loosened: parties now only disclose donations above two hundred thousand rands, double the old threshold, and the annual cap per donor…

Young voters feel unrepresented

Naledi Mashishi reported that many young people do not feel represented by any party or served by democratic institutions.

Cape Town housing prices surge

Cape Town property prices have risen about thirty-one percent in five years, roughly double the increase in other big metros. The city has more than twenty-seven thousand Airbnb listings, prompting calls for rent control.

Disinformation spreads online

The panel discussed how disinformation spreads.In July, the Constitutional Court struck down parts of the Refugees Act, but online it became foreigners are getting the vote.

Democracy requires active citizens

KG's final message was sincere: Democracy is hard and we all need to work for it. He urged voters to vote on 4 November, then stay involved in their communities beyond election day.

“Democracy is hard, and we all need to work for it.”