The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has called on families and communities across the country to mark Freedom Day by actively educating children about democracy, active citizenship, and the rule of law through storytelling.

As the country commemorates 32 years of democracy on Monday, SALGA said society has a critical role to play in shaping a new generation of informed and responsible citizens, particularly at a time when democratic values must be strengthened and protected.

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“Society can play an active role in helping children to understand their freedoms, respect the rule of law, and participate meaningfully in building a better local government system for all,” the organisation said in a statement.

South Africa is scheduled to hold its sixth Local Government Elections later this year or early next year.

This year’s Freedom Day is being observed under the

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Deputy cooperative governance minister Dickson Masemola has warned that trust in government has fallen to 36%, and told municipal communicators they must be “at the tip of the spear” with proactive messaging as misinformation spreads fast.

Masemola was speaking at the 9th SALGA National Communicators’ Forum at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

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He cited the Edelman Trust Barometer for 2024/2025, which he said showed trust in government at 36%, “which represents 7% trust growth from the previous 29% in 2024”.

 He also referenced the South African Social Attitudes Survey released in July 2025, saying it showed declining trust between public institutions and society.

“We need communication that is proactive, strategic and anticipatory, communication at the tip of the spear,” Masemola said. “This means framing issues early, addressing concerns honestly, and managing

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Amid persistent service delivery failures and crumbling municipal infrastructure, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise implementation, funding reform and accountability in his 2026 State of the Nation Address.

In a statement issued on Tuesday ahead of the President’s address scheduled for Thursday, SALGA said the country’s municipalities are under growing pressure to translate long-standing policy commitments into tangible improvements for communities.

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As South Africa marks 30 years of organised local government and the Constitution, SALGA said the milestone should prompt a renewed focus on the role of municipalities as drivers of development and the frontline of service delivery.

The association said it expects the 2026 State of the Nation Address to reaffirm local government’s central role in national development while demonstrating measurable progress on reforms

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