MEDIA ALERT

Friday, 23 October 2026

Communities building power beyond the ballot box: Local Organising Playbook and Workbook launch in Durban

My Vote Counts and the Durban South Community Advice Centre will launch the Local Organising Playbook and Workbook for Local Government on Saturday, 24 October 2026, in Durban.

The launch will bring together community organisers, activists and five civic formations that have developed community manifestos with residents to share lessons on collective organising, articulating community demands and holding elected representatives accountable.

As South Africa approaches the 2026 Local Government Elections, the gathering will highlight the importance of democratic participation beyond the ballot box. Discussions will explore how communities can build and sustain collective power, strengthen public accountability and advance conversations around a Right to Recall representatives who fail the communities they were elected to serve.

The event will also mark the formal launch and handover of the Playbook and Workbook -practical resources to support communities in organising around shared priorities and engaging meaningfully with local government.

MEDIA ARE INVITED TO COVER:

  • The launch of practical tools for community organising and local democratic participation.
  • Lessons from five civic formations on developing community manifestos.
  • The role of residents and civic formations in strengthening accountability between elections.
  • Discussions on the Right to Recall and mechanisms for holding elected representatives accountable.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Saturday, 24 October 2026 | 11:00–15:00

Where: The Blue Roof Life Space, 178 Austerville Drive, Wentworth, Durban, 4052
ENDS