South Africa is betting on WhatsApp to bring Gen Z back to the ballot box

The strategy appears to be gaining traction. Nearly half a million voter registration transactions during the IEC's final registration drive came from people aged 16 to 29, while 46% of all new registrations were by voters under 29. The figures suggest digital platforms may be lowering barriers to registration. The bigger question, however, is whether making registration easier can also overcome the political disengagement that has defined past local elections.