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IEC apologises for late ballot papers as special voting starts

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

The Electoral Commission of South Africa said 780,000 special votes were cast on Monday, the first day of special voting. Scores of voting stations, mainly in Cape Town, started late because ballot papers arrived late.

Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo told a media briefing on Monday evening that all logistical difficulties were resolved during the day. He described the count of 780,000 as conservative. The commission said 217 voting stations in the City of Cape Town had delays.

The commission expects 2.6 million voters to cast special votes on Monday and Tuesday. Mamabolo said Tuesday would be much improved and Wednesday would be better still. He also offered an apology to affected voters.

Ballot papers were late after about 28 million had to be reprinted in 107 municipalities. The reprint followed a Constitutional Court ruling of 15 October that ordered 181 ANC candidates reinstated, with 32 other parties given the same relief. About 29 million South Africans are registered to vote in the municipal polls.

Democratic Alliance (DA) voters have written to the commission to complain about the delays, reports said. DA federal council chair Ashor Sarupen said the commission should convene an urgent meeting of the party liaison committee on the failures that caused the delay.

Key facts

Who
Sy Mamabolo (chief electoral officer, Electoral Commission of South Africa); Ashor Sarupen (DA federal council chair); Electoral Commission of South Africa (election management body); Democratic Alliance (political party whose voters complained about delays)
What
On the first day of special voting ahead of the local government elections, the IEC said 780 000 special votes were cast and apologised for late starts at scores of voting stations, mainly in Cape Town, after ballot papers arrived late. The IEC said all logistical difficulties were resolved during the day.
When
2 November 2026
Where
Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Status
Reported

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