Parties in Johannesburg barely mention the city on posters — Daily Maverick
In Johannesburg, South Africa, most parties in their election advertising focus on national leaders and general slogans, barely mentioning the city or candidates for mayor. This is stated in an analysis by Daily Maverick ahead of the local elections.
Betting on party leaders
ANC posters are dominated by images of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the slogans “Vote ANC” and “Let’s Continue Building Better Communities Together”. The publication notes that this advertising contains no clear appeal specifically to Johannesburg residents.
The uMkhonto weSizwe party uses posters featuring Jacob Zuma and the slogans “We’re Taking Municipalities” and “Bring Back our Municipalities”. EFF materials mainly feature party leader Julius Malema, although the EFF candidate for mayor of Johannesburg is Dr Thlalang Mofokeng. The EFF’s main slogan is “Victory or Death”.
PAC placed a poster featuring its leader Mzwanele Nyontsho and the call “Reclaim our Land”. Nyontsho is also the minister of rural development and land reform in the national coalition.
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Local appeals and criticism
ActionSA in Johannesburg uses an image of Herman Mashaba and the phrase “Let’s do it Again”. According to Daily Maverick, this slogan likely refers to the period after 2016 when he served as the city’s mayor while belonging to the DA. In Tshwane, ActionSA posters mention incumbent mayor Nasiphi Moya and include the call “Five More Years”.
DA has focused its advertising on Johannesburg itself: its slogans call to “Get Joburg Working for All” and “Get Joburg Working Again”. Helen Zille is taking part in the party’s campaign. Bosa placed its leader Mmusi Maimane and its Johannesburg candidate Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster on posters. Its messages include the slogans “They broke Joburg”, “They will sell Joburg”, and “We will build Joburg”, which the publication describes as criticism of other parties.
FF+ posters feature former leader Pieter Groenewald and current leader Corné Mulder with the Afrikaans slogans “Dis Tyd” and “Dis Ons Tyd”. Rise Mzansi uses images of national leader Songezo Zibi and its Johannesburg candidate Lukhona Mnguni.
