Misinformation and disinformation infiltrate everyday workings of local government

As the mayor of uMngeni Municipality I’ve seen first-hand the power and potential of local government to transform lives. Every day my team and I work to address the challenges our residents face, whether improving infrastructure, enhancing public services or fostering local economic development.

However, a growing threat has emerged that undermines these efforts: misinformation and disinformation. This isn’t just a national or global issue; it affects us directly in our communities, with serious consequences for governance, trust and democracy. 

Misinformation (false information spread without harmful intent) and disinformation (deliberately false information spread to deceive) are no longer just topics for academic discussion or news headlines. They are infiltrating the everyday workings of local government.

Local governments like ours are particularly vulnerable because we are closest to the people. Residents look to us for immediate solutions to pressing issues, from water and sanitation to housing and jobs. But when false narratives take hold, it disrupts our ability to deliver. 

In uMngeni, like many municipalities, we’ve witnessed how misinformation can spread rapidly online, particularly through social media, often outpacing our ability to respond with the facts.

Read more: 84% of surveyed Africans rely on social media as their primary news source

Recently, a misleading social media post claimed that the municipality was deliberately withholding services from certain communities due to political bias. This couldn’t be further from the truth: service delivery is guided by transparent processes based on community needs, not political affiliations. Yet by the time we had debunked these false claims, the damage had been done, and public trust had been eroded. 

Public trust is the foundation of effective local governance. Without it, it becomes incredibly difficult to govern. Trust gives us the mandate to implement policies, carry out projects and manage public resources. Misinformation undermines this trust by casting doubt on our intentions, our competence, and even our legitimacy. 

One example is misinformation surrounding service delivery. False reports about water shortages, power cuts or road maintenance issues spread quickly, creating panic and confusion. Often, these issues do exist, but the misinformation distorts the facts, making it appear as though the municipality is either incompetent or negligent.

This is particularly dangerous in a country like South Africa, where local government performance is often already under intense scrutiny due to historical challenges and the struggle to meet high service delivery expectations. 

Misinformation not only erodes trust but also deepens divisions within communities. In South Africa’s politically charged environment, it doesn’t take much for misinformation to inflame existing tensions.

False or misleading information about local government actions can be used by political opponents or interest groups to create a narrative of failure or bias, setting different groups against each other.

In uMngeni, we have seen how misinformation can polarise residents along political or racial lines, making it harder to build consensus and work towards shared goals. 

For instance, during a recent dispute over electricity outages, misinformation circulated suggesting that the outages were only affecting certain racial groups or political constituencies. In reality, the outages were caused by infrastructure failures beyond the municipality’s control.

However, the narrative of intentional discrimination gained traction, inflaming tensions and complicating our efforts to communicate the real causes and solutions. 

Read more: Loud and whispered conspiracies shape our daily lives and the choices we make

Misinformation also disrupts our ability to deliver public services effectively. During the Covid-19 pandemic, misinformation about vaccines and health measures severely hindered our public health response. False claims about vaccine safety led to lower vaccination rates in certain communities, endangering lives and prolonging the pandemic’s impact on our municipality. 

Similarly, misinformation about property values and zoning laws has led to legal disputes and public opposition to development projects that are critical for local economic growth. When misinformation spreads unchecked, it creates delays, increases costs and diverts resources from other essential services. 

One of the most concerning risks posed by misinformation is its potential to undermine democratic processes. In the lead-up to local elections, false information about candidates, voting procedures or election results can distort public perceptions and undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process.

In some cases, disinformation campaigns are deliberately designed to suppress voter turnout or sow distrust in election outcomes. 

As a mayor, I’ve seen how misinformation can affect public participation in governance. When residents believe false narratives about local government corruption or inefficiency, they become disillusioned and disengaged. This is particularly dangerous because local democracy relies on active, informed citizen participation. When people disengage, it weakens the very foundation of our democracy. 

Addressing the challenges posed by misinformation requires a comprehensive approach. First, local governments must invest in proactive communication. We need to provide timely, accurate information to the public through multiple channels, including social media, to engage with residents directly and counter false narratives before they gain traction. 

Second, we must partner with local media and trusted community leaders to amplify accurate information. Trusted voices play a critical role in dispelling misinformation and restoring trust.

Third, we need to build resilience in our communities by educating residents on how to identify and verify information. Digital literacy is essential in the fight against misinformation. 

Finally, local governments must be prepared to respond swiftly to crises fuelled by misinformation. This means having crisis communication strategies in place to counter false information before it escalates into panic or unrest. 

Misinformation and disinformation are not just challenges for national governments or global platforms. They are local threats that directly impact our ability to govern effectively and deliver services to our communities.

As local leaders, we must take this threat seriously and work with our residents, media and civil society to combat the spread of false information. Only by doing so can we restore trust, build unity and protect the integrity of our local democracy. DM