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KZN ballot counting starts as police report stable province

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Empty school hall with rows of plain wooden voting booths under high windows.

Voting stations in KwaZulu-Natal closed at 9:00pm on Wednesday and counting began in the 2026 municipal elections. Police said pockets of political intolerance did not break the calm, and that power outages did not disrupt voting or counting.

Phakamani Mabaso, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) regional manager for Zululand, said most of the 546 voting stations in Zululand District were counting ballots. He reported minor disturbances, including alleged clashes between IFP and ANC supporters in AbaQulusi Municipality. At least two ANC supporters received medical attention from paramedics.

Mabaso said most incidents came from alcohol abuse, because people lose control and lose their temper. He said contingency plans were in place so that counting runs smoothly.

Phumelele Makoba, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal police, briefed media at the IEC Results Operation Centre at the Durban ICC. He said the province stayed stable throughout the election period to that point. Police covered 165 high risk, 1014 medium risk and 3550 low risk voting stations.

Makoba said power outages in KwaMakhuta, Umbumbulu and Isipingo may have been manmade with ill intentions.

Key facts

Who
Phakamani Mabaso (IEC Zululand Regional Manager); Phumelele Makoba (Acting Provincial Commissioner, KwaZulu-Natal police); Independent Electoral Commission (election management body; Zululand regional office and Results Operation Centre); South African Police Service (police; said KZN remained stable)
What
Voting stations closed at 21:00 on the 2026 municipal elections day and counting began, with most of the 546 voting stations in Zululand District counting ballots. IEC Zululand regional manager Phakamani Mabaso reported minor disturbances, including alleged IFP-ANC clashes in AbaQulusi Municipality, and KZN police said power outages did not disrupt voting or counting.
When
4 November 2026
Where
KwaZulu-Natal, Zululand District, AbaQulusi Municipality
Status
Reported

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