IEC Reports Progress as Counting and Verification Continue After Wednesday’s Elections

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reported progress in capturing and verifying results following Wednesday’s local government elections, with 18 local municipalities having completed the process by 9 am on Thursday.

The commission said 34.8% of the expected election results slips had been captured, while 25.4% had already undergone independent auditing as the counting and verification process continued across the country.

Voting stations closed at 9 pm on Wednesday, November 4, with the IEC confirming that voters whoREAD MORE

Police are investigating two separate deaths reported at election venues in Mpumalanga and Limpopo following South Africa’s 2026 local government elections.

In Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, a 57-year-old man was shot dead outside a voting station in Boikhutso in the early hours of Thursday, while in Polokwane, Limpopo, a deceased person believed to be an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member was found at Flora Park Comprehensive School voting station.

The two incidents have raised concerns about safety at election venues as politicalREAD MORE

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) have paid tribute to Advocate Modibedi Eric Phindela, Secretary to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), following his sudden death on Tuesday.

Phindela’s passing on November 3 has been described as a significant loss to Parliament, the legislative sector and local government, where he was regarded as a trusted adviser, experienced administrator and longstanding friend.

In separate statements issued on Wednesday, SALGA and the GPL expressed theirREAD MORE

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has urged eligible voters who have not yet cast their ballots to use the remaining hours of Wednesday’s local government elections, revealing that 12 million people had voted by 5pm.

With voting stations scheduled to close at 9pm, the commission said voting had progressed well across the country, despite a few isolated incidents.

The preliminary figures show that Gauteng recorded the highest number of voters, with three million people having cast their ballotsREAD MORE

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against campaigning inside voting stations during Wednesday’s local government elections, saying anyone who contravenes the law faces a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, 4 November, the commission clarified the legal restrictions governing political campaigning on Election Day, emphasising that voting stations must remain free from activities that could influence voters.

Voting stations opened at 7am andREAD MORE

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged registered voters to turn out in their numbers and participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections, saying citizens have a responsibility to determine the future of their municipalities and the country.

Ramaphosa and First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe cast their ballots at Hyde Park High School in Sandton on Wednesday, where the president arrived with his family.

It was the first time Ramaphosa voted at the Hyde Park voting station. He has traditionally cast hisREAD MORE

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has announced an electoral cooperation agreement with the African Transformation Movement (ATM) in the City of Johannesburg, urging its supporters to vote for the ATM on the proportional representation (PR) ballot while retaining its own candidates on the ward ballot.

The decision comes after the UDM was unable to participate in the PR ballot in Johannesburg in the November 4 local government elections.

In a statement on Wednesday, UDM secretary-general Bulelani Bobotyane said the partyREAD MORE

Millions of South Africans are heading to voting stations on Wednesday as the country holds its 2026 Local Government Elections, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) urging eligible voters to turn out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right.

Voting officially opened at 7am, with long queues already forming at several voting stations across the country before the doors opened, signalling an early start to what is expected to be a closely watched electoral contest.

IEC chairpersonREAD MORE

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged students and young people across South Africa to turn out in numbers for Wednesday’s local government elections, warning that frustration and disappointment with political leadership should not discourage them from exercising their democratic right.

Manamela said the November 4 elections presented an important opportunity for young people to influence decisions that directly affect their daily lives, particularly in communities where they live, study and work.

For some students, Wednesday’s elections willREAD MORE

Water supply is gradually being restored to communities in Gauteng following the restoration of electricity at Rand Water’s Mapleton Pumping Station, but residents in parts of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and surrounding municipalities could continue experiencing dry taps and low water pressure as the system recovers.

Rand Water confirmed that pumping operations resumed at approximately 3.10pm on Tuesday after an electricity outage brought operations at the Mapleton station to a complete standstill the previous evening.

The outage occurred at 8.35pm on Monday,READ MORE