News Desk Reporter
The day many citizens have waited for has arrived, with millions heading to the polls to decide who will lead their municipalities for the next five years.
Voting stations opened at 7 am this morning as the country held its 2026 Local Government Elections. Registered voters have until 9 pm to cast their ballots.
The elections come at a difficult time for many municipalities, with residents still facing challenges ranging from water shortages and electricity problems to poor roads, sewage leaks, and uncollected rubbish.
These issues have featured prominently during the election campaign, with voters weighing up the performance of their current representatives against promises made by parties seeking control of local councils.
Early indications pointed to a strong turnout. By 10 am, approximately 3.5 million people had cast their ballots, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
IEC deputy chief executive Masego Sheburi reported that 98% of voting stations had opened at the scheduled time of 7am.
Some experienced delays because of local protests and adverse weather conditions, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. A
President Cyril Ramaphosa also cast his vote at Hyde Park High School in Johannesburg, alongside First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe.
Speaking after voting, Ramaphosa described the queues at polling stations as a significant moment for democracy.
“This is democracy at work,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenges facing municipalities but said government was committed to rebuilding local government and improving service delivery.
Ramaphosa also expressed confidence in the councillors who would emerge from the elections, saying he believed representatives from different political parties would be “more committed to serving our people”.
He urged those who had not yet voted to use the remaining hours to participate, telling them to “go out and vote”.
While in Ekurhuleni, Ramaphosa also made telephone calls to residents, encouraging them to cast their ballots.
Former president Kgalema Motlanthe also cast his vote at Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg.
EFF president Julius Malema voted at Mponegele Primary School in Seshego, Limpopo, accompanied by his son, Ratanang, and fellow party leaders.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile cast his ballot at St Johannes Lutheran Church in Ward 109, Kelvin, Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse showed her support for DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille at Emmarentia Primary School. Phalatse presented Zille with flowers and words of encouragement as she campaigned for the mayoral position.
A total of 136,790 candidates are contesting 10,526 council seats across the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities.
The elections are taking place against the backdrop of a changing political landscape.
The African National Congress (ANC), which has governed the country since the advent of democracy in 1994, faces another test of its support after receiving less than 50% of the vote in the 2021 local government elections.
The 2026 polls also mark the first time former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) is contesting local government elections.
Unlike national elections, where voters choose representatives for Parliament, local government elections determine who serves on municipal councils. Councillors make decisions affecting communities, including service delivery, infrastructure and local development.
With voting continuing until 9 pm, attention will turn to the counting process and the political balance that emerges from the ballot.