As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, the Electoral Commission has raised concerns about low youth participation in the democratic process. According to the IEC, more than 70% of eligible South Africans between the ages of 18 and 19 are not registered to vote. This comes despite ongoing voter education campaigns and efforts to encourage young people to make their voices heard. With local government elections directly affecting issues such as service delivery, housing, infrastructure, employment opportunities and community development, the question remains: Why are so many young people choosing not to register? To help us unpack this issue and understand what's driving youth voter apathy, we're joined by Political Social Commentators,  Tshepang Magabe and Thabiso Maphosa .