Every five years, South Africans go to the polls to choose who will run their local government. These elections are separate from the General Elections, which also take place every five years. And while Parliament shapes the country's laws, your municipality shapes the quality of your daily life. Municipal councils also develop bylaws that regulate the affairs, services, and administration within their jurisdictions. It is the level of government that most directly touches your life....

Innovation requires intentional spaces for reflection, critique and reimagination. That conviction sat at the heart of Futurelect's 2026/27 Women in Public Office, South Africa Programme Design Council Retreat, held over three days at the Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa. Bringing together Futurelect alumni, staff, external experts, and valued partners and funders, the retreat marked a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of one of South Africa's most...

On 21 March 1960, over 5,000 South Africans gathered in Sharpeville, Gauteng, to make their voices heard. The events of that day left a profound mark on the nation's history, drawing international attention and giving renewed momentum to the movement for freedom and equality. South Africa’s democracy has been shaped by decades of civic action. Image source: Canva This moment is why South Africa marks 21 March as Human Rights Day. It is the foundation on which the country's constitutional...