Your vote, explained | Politically Aweh on the 2026 local government elections
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With the local government elections on Wednesday 4 November, many students in Stellenbosch are about to vote for the first time, often in a town they live in for only part of the year. Zoë Human and KG Mokgadi of Politically Aweh join Sibulele Ndudula and Nalo Sekakatlela on The Lift Club to explain, without party politics, how voting actually works and why local government matters. This conversation is also the 100th episode of the MFM 92.6 podcast.
Politically Aweh is a South African news and politics show that combines serious reporting with comedy, and it makes media to help young people take part in public life. Video producer Stephen Horn founded the show in 2017, inspired by the satirical news format of The Daily Show. Zoë Human is the show's co-host and a TV presenter, and KG Mokgadi is a comedian and host of Politically Aweh. Together they bring a newsroom's precision and a comedian's timing to the questions voters are often too embarrassed to ask.
The conversation follows a first-time voter from the registration roll to the ballot box. It explains what each ballot is for, separates what a municipal council controls from what national government controls, and looks at the two issues young people raise most often: housing and unemployment. The guests don't tell anyone how to vote.
What we cover in this episode:
- Why local elections matter: Mokgadi makes the case that the council matters to students, because it decides on roads, water, electricity and refuse removal in their town. Human sets out why Politically Aweh explains politics to young people the way it does.
- Your ballots, explained: Human and Mokgadi explain the ballots a Stellenbosch voter receives and what each one is for, including the difference between voting for a ward councillor and voting for a party. They also look at how local results are decided and why a few votes can make the difference in a ward.
- Local vs national: The guests set out what a municipal council is responsible for and what stays with national government, and where voters most often confuse the two.
- Inside the voting station: Human goes through voting day step by step, from the queue to the ballot box. Mokgadi explains what voters can do if something seems wrong, such as a name missing from the voters' roll.
- Where you vote matters: The guests explain why you must vote where you registered, which is especially important for students registered at home, and how to check your registration details.
- Key issues: housing and unemployment: Human and Mokgadi look at what a local council can and can't do about housing and jobs. They also explain how young voters can judge any candidate's promises for themselves.
Stream MFM 92.6: www.mfm.co.za
Follow us on socials: @mfm926
Politically Aweh is a South African news and politics show that combines serious reporting with comedy, and it makes media to help young people take part in public life. Video producer Stephen Horn founded the show in 2017, inspired by the satirical news format of The Daily Show. Zoë Human is the show's co-host and a TV presenter, and KG Mokgadi is a comedian and host of Politically Aweh. Together they bring a newsroom's precision and a comedian's timing to the questions voters are often too embarrassed to ask.
The conversation follows a first-time voter from the registration roll to the ballot box. It explains what each ballot is for, separates what a municipal council controls from what national government controls, and looks at the two issues young people raise most often: housing and unemployment. The guests don't tell anyone how to vote.
What we cover in this episode:
- Why local elections matter: Mokgadi makes the case that the council matters to students, because it decides on roads, water, electricity and refuse removal in their town. Human sets out why Politically Aweh explains politics to young people the way it does.
- Your ballots, explained: Human and Mokgadi explain the ballots a Stellenbosch voter receives and what each one is for, including the difference between voting for a ward councillor and voting for a party. They also look at how local results are decided and why a few votes can make the difference in a ward.
- Local vs national: The guests set out what a municipal council is responsible for and what stays with national government, and where voters most often confuse the two.
- Inside the voting station: Human goes through voting day step by step, from the queue to the ballot box. Mokgadi explains what voters can do if something seems wrong, such as a name missing from the voters' roll.
- Where you vote matters: The guests explain why you must vote where you registered, which is especially important for students registered at home, and how to check your registration details.
- Key issues: housing and unemployment: Human and Mokgadi look at what a local council can and can't do about housing and jobs. They also explain how young voters can judge any candidate's promises for themselves.
Stream MFM 92.6: www.mfm.co.za
Follow us on socials: @mfm926
