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NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
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South Africans vote in seventh local government elections

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

Empty school hall with rows of plain voting booths and wooden tables in morning light.

More than 23,000 voting stations opened at 7am and close at 9pm, with over 29 million people registered to vote. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it will declare results within seven days of the polls.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to vote at Hyde Park High School in Johannesburg. Deputy President Paul Mashatile is due to vote at St Johannes Lutheran Church in Kelvin, Johannesburg. The Presidency announced the plans of both leaders.

IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya and his team promised credible, free and fair elections.

Key facts

Who
Cyril Ramaphosa (President); Paul Mashatile (Deputy President); Mosotho Moepya (IEC Chairperson); Independent Electoral Commission (Electoral body running the elections)
What
South Africans are voting in the seventh democratic local government elections; over 23 000 voting stations opened at 7am and close at 9pm. Ramaphosa and Mashatile are due to vote at Hyde Park High School and St Johannes Lutheran Church in Kelvin, Johannesburg, respectively. The IEC says results will be declared within seven days of the polls.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Hyde Park, Kelvin, Johannesburg
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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