RC 261105SAfmJoanne Joseph
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Local government election results day, dominated by a higher-than-expected turnout of about 15.9 million voters, slow counting and declaration timelines, and election-day security incidents.
- 10:13
The IEC says about 15.9 million South Africans voted, and over 800 complaints were lodged, with about 106 still open. Final results cannot be declared before 5pm tomorrow.
- 09:03
Police in Mpumalanga are probing the fatal shooting of a 57-year-old man outside a Bushbuckridge voting station while ballot counting was under way. No arrests have been made and the motive is unknown.
- 09:04
NATJOINTS says coordination with the IEC must be strengthened after operational challenges in KwaZulu-Natal. A post-election review will address remaining gaps, though it called the elections generally well managed.
- 09:05
With 28% of Western Cape voting districts declared, the Patriotic Alliance had claimed five of Prince Albert's ten council seats, up from one of seven seats in 2021.
- 10:30
A Wits researcher says the turnout rise points to voter fluidity, with disillusioned voters switching parties rather than staying home, though most South Africans still sat out the vote.