RC 261105947Thando Thabethe
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Election counting dominated the afternoon, with a Northern Cape ballot-station disruption, close Gauteng metro races and early talk of coalitions, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from Portugal duty.
- 15:01
Supporters and leaders of a local independent forum destroyed election material and tore up ballot papers at a Douglas voting station in the Northern Cape, halting counting; the station is now a formal crime scene.
- 17:01
Provisional counts show the DA leading in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, while Tshwane is a close three-way contest between the DA, ActionSA and the ANC, with results still incomplete and subject to change.
- 15:54
ActionSA says it is open to working with any party provided its principles are respected, while coalition talks are expected to start early next week after all results are announced.
- 15:05
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international duty with Portugal, ending a 23-year career with about 243 caps and a record international goal tally.