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Voters queue from 5am as local elections open in Saulsville

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

Empty school hall with plain wooden voting booths in rows under morning light.

Voting in South Africa's local government elections began at the Motsweding combined school in Saulsville, west of Pretoria, on Wednesday. Residents there named the cost of living, rent and pension grants as their main concerns.

Wednesday is a public holiday. Some voters in the queue complained that 7am is a late start for voting.

Madumetja Mothabele, a 61-year-old voter, said residents want service delivery and electricity, and that rent is very expensive. Rejoice Makgoro, a state pensioner, said she gets an old age grant of R2,400 a month. She said food is expensive and the grant is too small for her food and rent, and she wants it raised to at least R3,000.

Key facts

Who
Madumetja Mothabele (61-year-old voter in Saulsville); Rejoice Makgoro (state pensioner and voter in Saulsville)
What
Voters queued from 5am at a Saulsville voting station as local government elections kicked off, with cost of living, rent and pension grants raised as top concerns by residents interviewed. Wednesday is a public holiday.
When
4 November 2026
Where
Saulsville, Pretoria
Status
Reported

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