The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), represented by Women Peace and Security Project Coordinator, Lindiwe Khoza, participated in the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) Western Cape Provincial Stakeholder Engagement on the Health of Electoral Democracy and Public Trust, held on 21 October 2026 in Cape Town.

The engagement formed part of the IEC’s national programme of provincial dialogues aimed at reflecting on the state of electoral democracy and public trust in South Africa. It brought together key stakeholders to consider challenges facing democratic participation and explore practical ways of strengthening confidence in democratic institutions.

Central to the discussions were findings from research conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which highlighted declining levels of public trust in democratic institutions while identifying opportunities to strengthen public confidence, civic participation and democratic legitimacy.

Similarly, the IJR’s Reconciliation Barometer findings highlight some risks looking ahead to the upcoming local government elections. The 2025 Barometer reports that local government remains one of the least trusted institutions in the country, eliciting confidence from only 26% of South Africans.

Participants  at the stakeholder engagement considered the Western Cape-specific findings and reflected on how stakeholders can collectively respond to the challenges identified in the research.

The engagement also provided an opportunity to explore practical approaches to strengthening democratic participation, promoting peaceful elections and building public confidence in democratic institutions ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Discussions focused on challenges and opportunities affecting democratic participation and public trust, strengthening partnerships in support of peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, and identifying practical areas for collaboration ahead of the local government elections.

IJR’s participation reflects its continued commitment to strengthening democratic participation and fostering dialogue around issues that affect public trust and social cohesion. Engagements of this nature provide an important platform for civil society, electoral institutions and other stakeholders to exchange perspectives and identify opportunities for collaboration in support of active citizenship and an inclusive democratic society.