News
Shorter queues, high satisfaction — but voter trust in IEC slips
15.9 million voters reshape local politics as coalitions loom
Voter turnout rebounded to 15.9 million in the 2026 local government elections, driven by middle-class frustration over service delivery…
Editorial: Why you needed to vote
As power and water outages struck Gauteng on election day, widespread voter apathy served only to protect the failing politicians responsible for crumbling municipal services.
Sophiatown’s patience is wearing thin
Frustrated by mounting crime, dry taps, and uncollected rubbish, Sophiatown residents headed to the polls demanding urgent solutions and accountable leadership.
My first vote, my future
First-time voter Timarie Grobler cast her ballot in Kempton Park hoping for jobs, unity, and better infrastructure, as analysts urge parties to take South Africa's crucial youth…
UCT weighs sanctions over ‘Islamist control’ claims
The University of Cape Town is considering disciplinary action against council members Mark Oppenheimer and David Ansara after an inquiry by retired judge Mahomed Navsa rejected…
Beyond the ballot box, the people watching over South Africa’s elections
Beyond the political parties and candidates, thousands of election workers and observers ensure voting day functions. From managing queues to tackling accessibility hurdles,…
Zuma makes plethora of promises as MK party takes early lead in KZN
Former President Jacob Zuma has pledged to aggressively tackle poverty and raise pensions as his uMkhonto weSizwe party secured an early lead in KwaZulu-Natal during vote counting.
LIVE: Local government elections results
Follow the live outcomes and real-time counts of the South African local government elections with our interactive results dashboard.
A meagre 12 million people cast ballots as vote counting commences after 9pm
Preliminary figures from the Electoral Commission of South Africa show that approximately 12 million voters cast their ballots by 5pm in the 2026 local government elections, with…
A new generation in the running for local government
Several candidates under the age of 30 are contesting wards across South African municipalities in the 2026 local government elections, aiming to bring fresh leadership and…
Ward 90 councillor candidate Paul Nkhumane puts service delivery at the centre of his campaign
Ward 90 councillor candidate Paul Nkhumane has pledged to put service delivery, infrastructure, and youth participation at the forefront of his agenda for Ekurhuleni residents.
The Bakerton Ballot: Political paralysis meets community policing in Ekurhuleni’s Ward 72
As rival political parties trade blame over service delivery failures in Ekurhuleni's Ward 72, the Bakerton Community Police Forum is stepping up to hold whoever wins accountable.
The long queues that once defined our democracy are becoming a distant memory
Reflecting on the historic, snaking queues that once defined South African democracy, a return to Tembisa exposes a troubling shift toward voter apathy and quiet polling stations.
Ballot shortages and technical glitches disrupt voting as frustrated residents are turned away
Voting was disrupted across several stations due to technical glitches, missing ballots, and voters roll errors, leading to long delays and rising tensions.
Alexandra residents question political promises as parties campaign across township
Despite a heavy presence of political parties campaigning in Alexandra, residents express growing disillusionment over persistent service delivery failures and empty election…
What is the point of voting?: Ivory Park Extension 2 youth lose faith in the ballot
Disillusioned by persistent water shortages and persistent unemployment, young residents in Ivory Park Extension 2 say voting no longer feels meaningful.
Two KZN voting stations closed, ballot papers stolen – IEC
The IEC has introduced strict verification protocols after ballot papers and a security stamp were stolen in eThekwini, while severe weather has left voting stations cut off in…
‘I want him to feel safe’: Westbury mother votes for her son’s future
Haunted by gangsterism, chronic water cuts, and unemployment in Westbury, mother Lauren Smith walked kilometres to cast her vote in hope of securing a safer future and better…
No water, no order: Sophiatown voter wants Freedom Front Plus to rescue SA
Frustrated by daily water cuts, uncollected rubbish, and urban decay, Sophiatown voter Joanna Moleko has cast her ballot for Pieter Groenewald and the Freedom Front Plus in…