Majority of South African councillors cannot read or write

Majority of South African Councillors Cannot Read or Write

A grave crisis looms over the foundation of South Africa's democracy, says Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at North-West University.

As South Africa approaches its local government elections in 2026,

the overwhelming majority of our councillors lack basic literacy skills

, a fact publicly confirmed by the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). The minister revealed that over 300 councillors in KwaZulu-Natal alone are illiterate.

This alarming reality is a direct threat to effective governance and service delivery across municipalities nationwide. Despite the critical role that local government plays as the constitutional vehicle for community development and public service, this literacy crisis remains unaddressed in the ongoing review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.

Author's summary: Literacy crisis threatens SA's democracy foundation.

The Mail & Guardian — 2025-10-14

Majority of South African Councillors Cannot Read or Write

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