Alexandra voters show up early for local government elections

As voters across the country queued at voting stations to cast their ballots in the 2026 Local Government Elections, River Park voting station in Ward 81 saw a healthy turnout of residents eager to have their say.

13 hours ago

Itumeleng Maloka 3 minutes read

13:30

Ward 76 in Alexandra is another ward to watch, with 15 417 registered voters, according to the IEC.

As voting continues, councillor candidates encourage people to turn up at voting stations and cast their ballot. Ward 76 councillor Zandile Mothupi confirmed that the stations had not experienced any significant delays or issues so far today.

At Bovet Primary School, the presiding officer confirmed that at least 271 people had cast their ballots between 07:00 and 11:00. Mothupi said turnout at the station was quite slow and that they were still encouraging people to vote.

She said she had seen young people register but could not confirm whether they were turning out in encouraging numbers at Bovet. “I would appreciate if they come out in numbers. They always say they are the future, but for them to be the future, they must make a mark so that they direct this future they are talking about,” Mothupi said.

Councillor candidate Norman Maila said that the numbers so far were encouraging and suggested that turnout was picking up.

“People are coming slowly to vote. Compared to the 2021 Local Government Elections, it is my view that this time the turnout is improving.”

He added that he had also noticed young people trickling into the station.
Another candidate said the turnout at the seven voting stations he had visited was encouraging.

At the 3 Square Sports Centre voting station, also in Ward 76, at least 523 people had cast their ballots between 07:00 and 13:00.

11:00

Altrec Sports Centre has recorded the lowest turnout of the two voting stations in Ward 105 visited so far, with no significant queues in sight as of 11:00.

Voters cast their ballot at Altrec Sports Complex voting station.
Photo: Itumeleng Maloka

Most voters are at the nearby Kwabhekilanga Secondary School in Ward 105, no more than 250m away.

Between 07:00 and 10:00, more than 360 people cast their ballots at Kwabhekilanga, and the queues remain considerably long.

At Altrec, officials said the queues were long early in the morning but have since reduced significantly. At least 293 people have voted at the station so far between 09:00 and 11:00.

10:00

Ward 105 UPDATE
The presiding officer at the Skeen Primary School voting station confirmed that they received another batch of ballots. Since the voting station opened in the morning over 500 people turned up to vote.
Now, according to the presiding officer, the number of people who have already cast their ballot is approaching 1 000. She confirmed that the number of ballots received are enough for everyone at the station to cast their ballot without any further delays.

09:30

Voting delays as ballot papers run out at Skeen Primary School
More than 100 voters were left queuing at the Skeen Primary School voting station in Ward 105 after ballot papers ran out on Wednesday morning.
The station experienced a huge inflow of voters from the moment it opened at 07:00, and its first batch of 500 ballots was used up quickly. By 09:00, the ballots had been finished, and IEC officials at the station confirmed that they were waiting for more to arrive.
Ward councillor Tefo Raphadu confirmed that he was aware the ballot papers had run out and said the matter had been addressed. According to Raphadu, more ballot papers were on their way.
Ward 105 is one of the most highly contested wards in Alexandra, with 58 candidates from 58 political parties vying for the ward councillor seat. Unlike Ward 81, it has 19 521 registered voters spread across six voting stations.

When the polls opened at 07:00, scores of residents had already gathered at the station, ready to vote for their preferred ward candidate and party from the 53 candidates contesting the ward.

According to the IEC’s 2026 figures, Ward 81 has 22 517 registered voters, who are expected to cast their ballots across the ward’s seven voting stations.

Queues are moving smoothly, and voting is expected to continue well into the day. Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers were stationed at the entrance of the voting station.