“VUT FM brought 16 political parties and formations together in Sharpeville to engage residents ahead of the 4 November 2026 elections”
07 October 2026 | Story by: Tayron Mhlongo | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
4 minutes read time.
As South Africa prepares for the 4 November 2026 local government elections, VUT FM 96.9 brought political representatives and the Sharpeville community together for an election debate aimed at strengthening public participation and giving residents an opportunity to listen, question and engage with those seeking public office.
The debate, held on 30 September 2026 at Ebenezer Christian Centre, formed part of VUT FM’s 2026 Local Government Election Debate Series, which has taken political discussions into communities across the Vaal. The series provides a platform for political representatives to engage directly with residents and respond to issues affecting their daily lives.
Sixteen political parties and formations participated in the Sharpeville engagement:
1. Active Citizens of South Africa (ACSA)
2. ActionSA
3. African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)
4. African National Congress (ANC)
5. African Restoration Alliance (ARA)
6. Afrika Mayibuye Movement
7. All Citizen Party
8. Democratic Alliance (DA)
9. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
10. Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)
11. Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC)
12. Rorisang Independent Party
13. Sedibeng Emfuleni Resident Association (SERA)
14. South African Communist Party (SACP)
15. Tau Dia Rora Cultural and Traditional Legotla
16. Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party)
Attendance reached approximately 120 people by the end of the debate, including community members and the panel of political representatives and independent candidates. The engagement gave residents an opportunity to hear different political perspectives in one setting and question those seeking their votes.
For community member Ms Lerato Sediro, this direct engagement was particularly valuable because residents regularly participate in elections but do not always have an opportunity to hear directly from political representatives.
“We are happy because we now have an opportunity to hear what they are bringing to us, because for a long time we have only been told things while we continued voting year after year. Bringing them before us is an honour because it gives us an opportunity to assess them properly while they are here with us,” said Ms Sediro.
Her comments reflected the importance of bringing political representatives before the community, allowing residents to listen to their proposals and assess the positions presented during the debate.
The discussion also revealed concerns about political trust. Community member Mr Thabo Mohanwe questioned the credibility of political parties, particularly some newer formations.
“These political parties are all here to loot and take what belongs to us. All these political parties, especially the new ones, are being run by members of those who come from the political party which I cannot mention, and we are expected to believe their lies,” said Mr Mohanwe.
For VUT FM, the purpose of the debates extends beyond giving political representatives an opportunity to speak. Ms Zukiswa Majola, News Editor at VUT FM, explained that the series was organised to inform communities about the elections, provide political parties and independent candidates with an equal platform, and enable residents to compare policies, programmes and plans.
“I believe these debates have brought greater understanding to our communities by giving people an opportunity to hear from those seeking public office and to better understand who they may be electing. I am pleased to see the level of participation from both the community and political representatives since we started the debate series. It is encouraging to see communities engaging with the political process and to witness the support for these engagements,” said Ms Majola.
The series also seeks to encourage civic participation and voter awareness, particularly among young people and the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) community. By allowing residents to ask questions and candidates to respond publicly, the debates promote accountability, transparency and constructive political dialogue.
Mr Kenny Morope served as programme director and facilitated the Sharpeville debate.
The engagement demonstrated the value of creating spaces where communities can raise concerns, hear competing perspectives and consider the choices before them. For VUT FM, providing balanced, fair and relevant information is central to helping listeners make informed decisions.
The Sharpeville debate was one of several engagements organised as part of the station’s election series. Upcoming community outreach activities include an engagement at Lakeside on 7 October and a Bophelong/Boipatong Hall engagement on 28 October. Live studio election broadcasts are also scheduled throughout October on Wednesdays from 18:00 to 20:00.
As election day approaches, VUT FM continues to give communities across the Vaal opportunities to listen, question and participate in the democratic process. The emphasis remains on giving residents a voice and supporting informed choices, while creating space for political representatives to account for the proposals they bring before the communities they seek to serve.