IEC launches TV series, podcast, to reach young voters

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has ramped up its efforts to increase voter registration levels, announcing the introduction of new platforms to reach young people around the country.

A new podcast channel is set to go live next week.

According to the IEC, the platform is designed to enhance transparency, expand access to information, and strengthen civic education.

In addition, a new edutainment reality series titled Beat for My Peeps will hit the screens on SABC1 in May.

“It is designed to inspire young South Africans to register, vote, and recognise the power of their voice in shaping our democracy. It brings together digital creators, music artists, established and emerging, and dynamic IEC representatives to create something truly fresh: a youth-driven TV experience where democracy meets culture.”

The commission believes this new series will unpack myths, challenge disillusionment and produce original tracks that motivate young people to show up and shape their communities in the 2026/2027 local government elections.

The IEC unveiled its logo for the elections under the slogan “Get up, Show up, Vote”.

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said these initiatives are in line with their mandate of restoring public trust in the effectiveness of public institutions and democratic processes.

He vowed that the commission would pay particular attention to parts of the country where doubt and mistrust have taken root to claw back voter participation.

“We will listen. We will engage, and we will respond — not defensively, but constructively. Even as we commit ourselves to this path, we must be clear about one fundamental truth: democracy only works when citizens participate."

Moepya said electoral participation is the best system to ensure that every person has a voice and every interest can find expression, as well as the ability to address every grievance in a framework of peace and order.

However, he warned that a withdrawal from participation is to surrender that power.

“Elections are the moment when every citizen, regardless of status or circumstance, is equal — equal in voice, equal in power, and equal in their ability to shape the future of their community and country.

“To withdraw is to silence one’s voice at the moment it is meant to be heard. Yes, democracy is imperfect. It reflects the imperfections of those who operate within it. The answer to the challenges within democracy is not less but more participation.”

Moepya conceded that the Human Sciences Research Council study on voter participation contained scathing findings.

“We must also acknowledge, with humility and honesty, that many of our people have expressed disappointment with the dividends of democracy. For too many, lived realities have not improved as they had hoped.

“These findings invite sober reflection for the nation and for the role of the commission in our electoral democracy. In essence, the findings indicate that three decades into democracy, public trust in many of our institutions has declined.”

While some institutions have been more affected than others, Moepya said the overall trend is clear that South Africans do not trust institutions as they once did.

“For us as a commission, one of the key takeaways is that public trust — whether in institutions, processes, or outcomes — cannot be taken for granted. Nor can we rely on the trust of yesterday to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

“We must continuously build trust and demonstrate to those who place their confidence in us that we do not take it for granted. Trust is fragile. It must be preserved with great care. Encouragingly, even when trust has been strained, it can be rebuilt — through consistency, integrity, and deliberate effort. In short, trust must be earned, and when lost, it must be re-earned."

Moepya said the IEC was ready to accept the responsibility.

“We are committed to reclaiming and strengthening our standing as one of the most credible and respected election management bodies in the world. This will not be achieved through words alone, but through our daily conduct — in every office, in every interaction, and in every aspect of our fieldwork across the country."

He said credibility is not defended through media statements or rhetoric.

“It is built — patiently and visibly — through ethical conduct and actions that are not only beyond reproach. We will therefore intensify our engagement with all stakeholders — the citizens of South Africa, political parties, civil society, traditional leaders, and the media.

“That is why today [Wednesday] is also a call to action. We call on every eligible South African to register to vote. If you are already registered, please ensure that your details are correct and up to date. If you have never registered before, take that first step.”

TimesLIVE