South Africa’s Politics of Pain Ahead of 2026
CCN Opinion News
As South Africa gears up for the 2026 local government elections, a familiar and unsettling pattern is re-emerging on social media.
Pictures – Social media
Old tragedies are being revived, polished with dramatic slogans like “Justice for…” and “We Demand the Truth,” and shared widely to stir emotions and build political momentum.
One such example making the rounds again on Facebook is a poster from the Truth and Solidarity Movement calling for “Justice for Tina Joemat-Pettersson.” The image features the late former ANC MP and minister against a backdrop of protest signs, with the bold claim: “Criminals are still in Parliament.”
Tina Joemat-Pettersson passed away on 5 June 2023 at her home in Rondebosch, Cape Town, at the age of 59. Police classified the death as unnatural and opened an inquest docket. An autopsy was conducted, and by late 2025 the cause of death had been determined. However, as confirmed in a parliamentary reply in December 2025, the matter remains before the court for a formal inquest. The official cause will only be made public once the presiding magistrate issues the J56 report, and even then, it is primarily shared with the family.
Nearly three years later, there have been no public arrests, charges, or conclusive evidence linking her death to foul play, murder, or direct political conspiracy. Some reports at the time mentioned her long battle with illness, including cancer, while others referenced the stress of political accusations (including bribery claims tied to the Busisiwe Mkhwebane impeachment process).
Yet the inquest continues its slow judicial course.
The sudden resurgence of these “Justice for Tina” posts is not happening in isolation. It mirrors how other deeply emotional cases, from missing children to high-profile deaths, are periodically revived on social platforms. In a fragmented political landscape, where smaller movements and new parties compete for attention, tragedy offers ready-made emotional currency. It taps into widespread public frustration with slow justice, perceived lack of transparency, and distrust in institutions.
This tactic is understandable in one sense.
South Africans are exhausted by unfulfilled promises, service delivery failures, and high-level scandals that rarely seem to reach full accountability. When people see “criminals still in Parliament,” it resonates because many feel the system protects the powerful.
But there is a cost.
Reviving unresolved cases without new evidence risks keeping families in prolonged pain, while turning real human loss into campaign material. It also fuels cynicism: voters start to wonder whether these campaigns are driven by a genuine quest for truth or by the need for visibility ahead of election season. With voter registration planned for June 2026 and polling stations set to open later in the year, the pressure to stand out is intense
– especially for smaller players fighting for wards and council seats.
A broader issue is at play here. South African politics has increasingly become a contest of narratives rather than a debate on practical governance. Issues like fixing roads, delivering water, improving safety, and creating jobs often take a backseat to emotive slogans. While accountability is essential, selective outrage over certain deaths or disappearances, amplified for clicks and shares
– can distort public discourse and erode trust further.
True solidarity with victims and their families would mean pushing for faster, more transparent inquests and judicial processes across the board, not just when it suits a political calendar. It would involve demanding better resourcing for the police, forensic services, and courts so that unnatural deaths don’t linger unresolved for years.
As we approach the 2026 municipal elections, voters deserve more than recycled pain points. They deserve clear plans on how parties and movements intend to address the everyday struggles of communities. From load-shedding hangovers and crumbling infrastructure to crime and unemployment. Emotional campaigns have their place in raising awareness
– but they must be grounded in facts, not speculation.
South Africa’s democracy is still maturing. In a diverse and often divided society, the responsible use of public platforms matters. Turning every unresolved tragedy into a viral political weapon may win short-term attention, but it deepens the very cynicism it claims to fight.
The people of South Africa do deserve the truth about Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s death and many other cases. But truth is best served through patient, rigorous investigation, not through election-season posters.
Let’s hope the coming campaign focuses more on building a better future than on weaponising the past.
