Ongoing

  1. ElectionsHot
  2. AIHot
  3. US mid-termsHeating up
NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
JoburgJHB28°91%CTCT19°88%PretoriaPTA28°69%DurbanDBN21°100%

Party leaders gather at IEC results centre in Midrand

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

Leaders of the EFF, MK Party, ANC, ActionSA, IFP and Freedom Front Plus attended the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results centre on Saturday, as votes in the local government elections were counted. Some leaders also went to a results centre in Durban.

The IEC National Results Operations Centre is at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. EFF leader Julius Malema and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma were there. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane also attended.

ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, who is also Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, was present. So were IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa and Freedom Front Plus leader Corne Mulder. ActionSA leader and mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba came, with spokesperson Lerato M-Ngobeni.

A photo caption said the IEC would announce the final results of the elections a day after the photographed date.

Key facts

Who
Julius Malema (EFF leader); Jacob Zuma (MK Party leader; former president); Fikile Mbalula (ANC secretary-general); Nomvula Mokonyane (ANC first deputy secretary-general)
What
A photo gallery shows EFF leader Julius Malema, MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and other party leaders and ministers at the IEC National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, while results of the local government elections were being counted.
When
7 November 2026
Where
Midrand, Durban, Johannesburg
Status
Reported

Related stories

Elections Hot

What you need to know

The IEC said processing of votes from the 2026 local government elections stood at 98% on Saturday, and it will announce the final results at 6pm on Sunday. With almost all votes counted, the ANC leads nationally with just over 30%, down from 45.59% in 2021, and Fikile Mbalula said the party was humbled.

The EFF's support fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 6.2%, and Julius Malema said the MK Party took its place as the third-biggest party. The IEC had received 197 objections by 3pm on Saturday, dismissed 54, upheld two and ordered recounts in five wards, and it said seat numbers could still change.

Earlier, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said about 150-160 councils will need coalition governments, and the MK Party said it has set up a coalition team while it disputes the vote.

  1. IEC says KZN complaints will not delay final results
  2. Government issues guidelines for new municipal councils after elections
  3. Hlabisa plans special meeting on hung councils after elections

See every update

AI Hot

What you need to know

Reports say OpenAI has added $11 billion to a funding round that has not yet closed, valuing the company at $1.25 trillion. OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company could be ready for an initial public offering in 2027.

Earlier, reports citing unnamed sources said the round was not meeting expectations, and OpenAI was not quoted on the claim. Before that, Anthropic published its S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing, showing revenue of $4.6bn in 2025, and said it would commit close to $900bn to AI infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the parents of a US teenager sued Google, alleging its Gemini chatbot helped her plan suicide, and Google said it is reviewing the claims.

  1. OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion more at $1.25 trillion value
  2. Parents sue Google over Gemini chatbot and daughter's suicide plan
  3. OpenAI could be ready for a share listing in 2027

See every update

US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

The US justice department has dropped its attempt to stop California counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters, filing a notice of dismissal after Democrats won comfortably in the state. Earlier, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, with at least a 54-44 Senate majority and at least 30 House seats gained.

US Vice-President JD Vance said the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost, while President Donald Trump said the war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. Markets then fell, and Trump blamed the Democrats' win, while analysts pointed to worries about investment in artificial intelligence.

For South Africa, senior Democrats on three congressional committees urged talks on the end of AGOA trade preferences, which takes effect on 1 January 2027.

  1. US justice department drops California mail-in ballot lawsuit
  2. US planning commission approves Trump's 76m triumphal arch
  3. Asian stocks plunge as US election results shake AI trade

See every update