Social inequality, not electoral apathy, is driving voter disengagement in SA
Daily Maverick | 28.07.2026 06:14
Would citizens participate in elections if they see no benefit for themselves? Speakers Dr Ben Roberts of the Human Sciences Research Council and Dr Pali Lehohla inspired this question at the thought leadership seminar titled The Disappearing Labour Theory: Understanding Recent Voting Patterns in South Africa’s Elections. The seminar, hosted by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), was aimed at trying to understand why citizens do not participate in elections.
