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IEC and security forces say they are ready for elections

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

Empty school hall with plain wooden voting booths lined up under high windows.

Voting stations open from 7am to 9pm on Wednesday, 4 November, for the 2026 Local Government Elections. The Electoral Commission said 29.2 million voters are registered and 1,425,942 people already voted in two days of special voting.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) said it has operational arrangements in place in all nine provinces. It has 23,696 voting stations nationwide and deployed 188,000 officials across them. Campaigning ends at midnight.

IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya spoke at a media briefing at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand. He said the secrecy of every vote is a basic principle of democracy and must be protected. The Commission also warned that false or misleading information can undermine public confidence in the election.

Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, co-chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS), said law enforcement readiness is at the highest operational level. He said planning took into account the security environment, past incidents, intelligence and possible threats.

Mosikili warned that protests on Election Day are prohibited. He said anyone who breaks the rules in Section 76 of the Municipal Electoral Act will face action. He and Moepya both urged voters to keep the day peaceful.

Key facts

Who
Tebello Mosikili (NatJOINTS co-chairperson, Lieutenant General); Mosotho Moepya (IEC Chairperson); National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Law enforcement coordinating structure that briefed the media); Electoral Commission (Body running the 2026 Local Government Elections)
What
At a media briefing on Tuesday evening, NatJOINTS co-chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said security services were ready for the 2026 Local Government Elections, warned that protests on Election Day are prohibited, and urged voters to act peacefully. IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the Electoral Commission was ready and urged a peaceful Election Day.
When
3 November 2026
Where
South Africa, Midrand, Gallagher Convention Centre
Status
Reported

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Voting in the 2026 Local Government Elections is under way at 23,696 stations, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reported a smooth start on 4 November. Stations opened at 7am and close at 9pm, and by 10am preliminary figures showed 3,523,691 voters had cast ballots.

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