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Cape Town votes start quietly in Nyanga, strongly in Bo-Kaap

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

Empty school hall with plain voting booths lined up under morning light.

Voting in Cape Town's local government elections began on Wednesday morning. Fewer than 20 people had voted at the Assembly of God station in Nyanga early on, while Bo-Kaap residents turned out in numbers.

The presiding officer at the Assembly of God voting station in Nyanga said turnout was normal for that time of day. The Nyanga area has eight voting stations. Electoral Commission of South Africa staff were in place at polling stations.

In Bo-Kaap, residents came out for an early start. The Democratic Alliance has held the ward for two decades. Zee, a long-time resident, said she voted early because the vote must change how the Bo-Kaap is run, and how other areas are run too.

Zee also said the city treats only certain areas as the city, and many other areas are badly neglected. Aaliyah, 26, also voted in Bo-Kaap. Michael, a city bowl resident, said it is important for everyone to vote.

Key facts

Who
Electoral Commission of South Africa (election body whose staff were in place at polling stations); Democratic Alliance (party that has retained the Bo-Kaap ward for the last two decades); Zee (long-time Bo-Kaap resident who voted early); Aaliyah (26-year-old Bo-Kaap voter)
What
Residents across Cape Town began casting ballots on Wednesday morning in the local government elections. At the Assembly of God voting station in Nyanga, fewer than 20 people had voted by early morning, which the presiding officer called normal; in Bo-Kaap, residents turned out in numbers for an early start.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Nyanga, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
Status
Reported

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