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Ramaphosa and three former presidents vote in local elections

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

Voting is underway at 23,696 stations in the Local Government Elections. Stations opened at 7am and are due to close at 9pm, with First Lady Tshepo Motsepe also casting her vote.

President Cyril Ramaphosa voted in Johannesburg, and former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe also cast their ballots. Former president Jacob Zuma voted at Ntolwane Primary School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. He leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).

Zuma spoke to the media after he voted in Ward 14. He called for political tolerance and said he hoped people would respect each other. He said he was confident the MKP would make significant gains, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma also said people in the country wanted change. He said the voting process was smooth and everything seemed to be in order. KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of hotspot areas and a history of political violence.

Key facts

Who
Jacob Zuma (Leader of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP)); uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (Political party contesting the 2026 local government elections); Cyril Ramaphosa (President); Tshepo Motsepe (First Lady)
What
Jacob Zuma, leader of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, called for political tolerance on election day and said he was confident the party would make significant gains, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. The article notes KZN has the highest number of hotspot areas and a history of political violence.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Ntolwane Primary School, Ward 14, Nkandla
Status
Reported

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