As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, Mapepeza News Media has officially launched Khetha Khona, a public interest media campaign designed to empower voters with accessible, relevant, and unbiased information about candidates and political parties contesting in their local areas.
Khetha Khona, which means “Choose Right Here,” is a voter education and awareness initiative that aims to bridge the information gap between candidates and communities—particularly at ward level, where many voters often lack visibility of who is on the ballot and what they stand for.
The campaign will focus on profiling candidates across Gauteng, including new political parties, independent candidates, and community-based leaders, ensuring that all voices are given fair and equal representation.
Speaking on the launch, Mapepeza News Media co-founder Stephen Seakgwe said the initiative is rooted in strengthening democracy through informed decision-making.
“Many South Africans vote without knowing all the options available to them, especially at local government level. Khetha Khona is about giving power back to the people by making information accessible, simple, and relevant to their daily lives,” said Seakgwe.
“We are not telling people who to vote for—we are giving them the tools to make their own informed choice.”
Through Khetha Khona, Mapepeza will publish a range of multimedia content, including written candidate profiles, short video interviews, ward-based comparisons, and community voice segments highlighting key service delivery issues raised by residents.
The campaign will be distributed across Mapepeza’s digital platforms, including its website, Facebook page, and WhatsApp channels, ensuring wide reach across township and urban communities.
Importantly, Khetha Khona will operate as a non-partisan platform, maintaining strict editorial independence while providing equal opportunity for all candidates to be featured. Sponsored content, where applicable, will be clearly labeled to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.
Mapepeza News Media is calling on electoral bodies, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and the private sector to support the initiative through collaboration, data sharing, and amplification, as part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic participation in South Africa.
For more information, to participate, or to collaborate on the Khetha Khona campaign, please contact:
Mapepeza News Media
Email: newspaper@mapepeza.online
Phone: 0782218002
