Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Prof Lisa Thompson cited 53 political killings this year, per the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, as politics and organised crime increasingly intersect ahead of the local elections.

A visually impaired activist said her tactile ballot aid was read out slowly and a ward ballot was not in alphabetical order, so finding her party took about 25 minutes at the station.

The IEC said 98% of its 23,696 voting stations were open by 7am, with minor delays blamed on protests and access challenges, and all ballot papers had been delivered.

An elderly woman collapsed while queuing to vote at Shallcross Primary in eThekwini and was declared dead on arrival at hospital; the IEC and police confirmed the incident.