63 candidates contest Eldorado Park ward in local election
Ongoing: Elections Hot
Ward 18 has the most candidates of any ward in next Wednesday's local government election, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa says a double-column ballot paper is unavoidable there. Many residents did not know about the double column.
Many residents in Ward 18 told a reporter they would not vote. They spoke of disillusionment, drug abuse and gangsterism in the area. Resident Ray Herman, aged 28, has never voted. He said: "It is useless to vote. I am not going to vote. There is no point."
The main contest appears to be between the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the DA, based on past results and campaign visibility. The PA won 64.58% of the ward vote in the 2021 local government elections. The DA won 18.24%. In a May by-election in the ward, the PA won 62% and the DA 22%.
Across the country, 136 790 candidates are contesting 10 526 seats in the 2026 election. In 2021, there were 95 427 certified candidates. Juwairiya Kaldine, the PA councillor for Ward 18, is seeking re-election.
Key facts
- Who
- Electoral Commission of South Africa (election body that flagged Ward 18 for having the most candidates); Sy Mamabolo (IEC chief electoral officer); Juwairiya Kaldine (Patriotic Alliance councillor for Ward 18 seeking re-election); Brenda Smith (Eldorado Park resident)
- When
- 28 October 2026
- Where
- Eldorado Park, Ward 18, City of Johannesburg
- Status
- Reported