LGE2026: South Africans vote

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By Smile Staff Reporter


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Rolling updates on the 2026 Local Government Elections. SCROLL to see earlier updates:

 

 

 

 

Public Order Police have been deployed to Hanover Park after the police’s anti-gang unit caught two groups throwing stones at each other near the Hanover Park Civic Centre voting station. According to police, when officers managed to calm the situation, one group turned on the officers, pelting them with stones and beer bottles. One officer sustained an injury and discharged three warning shots to disperse the attackers and restore order. Four suspects, aged between 16 and 20, were arrested and face charges of public violence and attack on police. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are allegedly affiliated with a criminal gang operating in the area.

 

 

14h00: The Western Cape IEC has provided an update, halfway through the 2026 Local Government Election. Chief Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse says they experienced issues with voter management devices (VMDs) this morning at voting stations that opened at 07h00, resulting in long queues at some stations.

 

Hendrickse says additional staff were deployed at problematic areas, and additional VMDs were also deployed to help with queue management. By 12h30, over 824,000 voters had been issued with ballots across the province.

 

Hendrickse also addressed the issues that were experienced on Special Voting days on Monday and Tuesday, after 217 voting stations didn’t open on time. He says that after polls closed on Tuesday evening, 68% of the nearly 300,000 people who had applied for Special Votes had voted.

 

He emphasised that those who could not vote on either Monday or Tuesday could still do so today.

 

Hendrickse has urged voters to use the opportunity to vote today, reminding residents that voting stations close at 21h00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Electoral Commission chair, Mosotho Moepya, says no glitches have been reported at voting stations so far this morning. He gave the Commission’s first update of election day proceedings earlier (around 07:30). He also reiterated that voters cannot cast their ballot anywhere in their ward, but only at the voting station where they have been registered. As such, voters are urged to double-check where they are registered.

 

CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION DETAILS HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you applied to vote on one of the two Special Voting Days but missed the opportunity, you can still vote today. This follows voting processes being delayed at 217 polling stations in the Western Cape on Monday due to an unforeseen delay in the delivery of voting materials. The problem was resolved later that day, but it could have affected citizens who wanted to vote that day. The Electoral Commission says you can still cast your vote at your respective polling stations today.

 

 

Voters are reminded that polling stations have opened at 07:00. It will be open for 14 hours, until 21:00. You’re encouraged to arrive early and to expect queues at voting booths. Voters must ensure they have their green ID book or smart ID card with them, as driving licences and other forms of identification will not be accepted. You’re also encouraged to bring along water, sunscreen, a hat, and whatever else you may need while waiting in queues.

 

 

The big day has arrived. More than 29 million South Africans will head to the polls today for the local government election. They’ll choose who will lead municipalities over the next 5 years. Over 500 political parties will contest nationally for over 10 000 seats.
Smile Staff Reporter
Smile Staff Reporter

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