LIVE | IEC reports 97% of vote counting complete
South Africa is currently conducting local government elections with 97% of votes counted, amid concerns over corruption and political fragmentation. The ANC faces a challenging landscape as smaller parties like the MK Party gain traction, signaling a potential shift toward coalition-based governance.
Why it matters
The outcome of these elections is critical for the future of service delivery and political stability in South African municipalities.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC expected a strong showing from Jacob Zuma's MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal.
Our journalists are out in the field bringing you live coverage from the Local Government Elections, they are speaking to political leaders, analysts and communities following Wednesday's voting.
Make sure to keep tuned to the IOL live blog for rolling coverage .
A long queue of voters forms outside Bardale Primary School in Mfuleni, Cape Town, as IEC officials work late into the night, pushing to process the remaining voters after 9pm.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has opened a criminal case after a ballot box and a security pack was stolen from Mnyameni Secondary School in KwaNyuswa, under the eThekwini Metro.
South Africans head to the polls in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
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