What happens when a town says “enough” – and takes back local power from corrupt leaders?
In 2021 a civic organisation called the Makhanda Citizen’s Front contested local elections in the Eastern Cape town of Makhanda and became the official opposition to the ANC. This came after years of municipal mismanagement, corruption and high levels of frustration. On realizing that protests were not working, the citizens formed a diverse civic organisation. This film highlights how ordinary people from diverse backgrounds can organise outside of political party lines to replace poor leaders.
Because democracy doesn’t end at the ballot box – sometimes it begins when the people lead.
Welcome to the State Capture and Beyond campaign – an ambitious nationwide initiative committed to combating corruption and building accountability in South Africa.
Led by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and the Human Rights Media Trust (HRMT), in partnership with Brot für die Welt (BfdW) and co-funded by the European Union, this campaign tackles the far-reaching impact of state capture while promoting public participation, especially among vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Our mission is simple but urgent: to empower citizens, foster transparency in public processes, and hold those in power accountable.
Through the voices of affected communities and advocates, the three case studies and two explainer videos in this series expose how corruption severely undermines basic rights, and profiles how people are standing up to reclaim them.
