HSRC survey: Growing disillusionment with democracy contributing to lower voter turnout - EWN

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) said growing disillusionment with democracy and declining trust in political institutions are contributing to voters staying away from the ballot box.

Voter apathy remains a concern, with growing frustration over poor service delivery and corruption further undermining public confidence in democratic processes.

The IEC said only 14.9 million of the nearly 30 million registered voters participated in the 2026 local government elections.

Briefing the media on its voter satisfaction survey following the elections, the HSRC says despite efforts to mobilise voters, discontent continues to dampen participation.

Research director at the HSRC, Dr Benjamin Roberts, said there has been a significant decline in the number of South Africans who view democracy as the preferred form of government.