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Voters weigh service failures ahead of 4 November local elections

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

About 29 million South Africans are registered to vote in the local government elections on 4 November. Anger over poor basic services and weak party loyalty may shift support, including away from the ANC, and coalition councils look likely.

Kuhle Zwakala, a political commentator at Stellenbosch University, said residents in townships want basic services. He said: "To be talking about electricity, water and sanitation issues 30 years into democracy is a shame." Oscar van Heerden, a senior research fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership, said there is also an identity factor.

An Ipsos survey in March found that 38 percent of respondents believed their municipality was doing its job well. Nearly half felt that no party represented their views. More than 500 parties are registered with the electoral commission, and the MK party of former president Jacob Zuma is new to local elections.

Turnout is a worry. It was 46 percent of registered voters in the 2021 local elections and 58.6 percent in the 2024 national polls. The ANC fell below 50% in 2021. By February 2026, 74 of the 257 councils were run by coalitions or minority administrations.

Voters hold mixed views. Ntombekhaya Makeleni, a Khayelitsha resident who uses a bucket toilet, said she will vote. Nkanyiso Hadebe, 24, of Chatsworth, said he will not vote because voting changes nothing.

Key facts

Who
Ntombekhaya Makeleni (Khayelitsha resident who relies on a bucket toilet and will vote); Nikesh Nunkoo (27-year-old Durban resident weighing whether to vote); Nkanyiso Hadebe (24-year-old Chatsworth resident who will not vote); Ntokozo Mthethwa (21-year-old IT student from Umlazi who sees no future)
What
An AFP feature ahead of the November 4 local government elections describes voter frustration over basic services, fragmented party support, and the likely trend toward coalition governments. It quotes residents and analysts on whether voters will turn out.
When
30 October 2026
Where
South Africa, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Status
Reported

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