Race and identity politics move to centre stage in Western Cape election campaign

Race, ethnicity and belonging have taken on greater prominence in the 2026 local election campaign in the Western Cape, political analyst Lorenzo Davids said. The AfriGo Group co-founder and director said smaller parties had brought ethno-nationalism, race, colour and human dignity—issues once treated as peripheral—into the political mainstream. Davids said voters were focusing less on policy and more on everyday needs and human dignity. The debate is unfolding alongside longstanding concerns about inequality and access to opportunities.