Baloyi calls 2026 polls watershed moment, urging Alexandra’s youth to vote
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party mayoral candidate visited Alexandra’s Ward 75 to encourage young voters to make their mark.
Johannesburg’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party mayoral candidate Bongani Baloyi has called the 2026 Local Government Elections a watershed moment for the party, urging young people in Alexandra to show up at their voting stations and make their mark.
Baloyi visited party members outside the 3rd Avenue Children’s Library voting station in Ward 75 on Wednesday. The party is contesting local government elections for the first time.\
Read more: Alexandra’s young voters share hopes for Johannesburg ahead of 2026 elections
He said Alexandra is a party area of strength, which is why they wanted to encourage voters to turn out in numbers.
Baloyi said it was important for young people to make their voices heard, noting that the party has a younger candidate who represents the aspirations of the broader community. “We appreciate young people and their contribution, not just young people but women as well,” Baloyi said.
Voting stations are expected to close at 21:00. However, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed in a statement today that voters within the boundaries of a voting station at closing time will still be assisted.
Meanwhile, the library station had recorded at least 811 voters who cast their ballots between 07:00 and 13:00. Another station, Jesus is the Answer, recorded a relatively lower turnout. Its presiding officer said around 517 people had voted there between 07:00 and 14:00.
The ward has seven voting stations and 19 348 registered voters, some of whom continue to trickle into stations to vote.
Also read: Alexandra SAPS convenes public talks ahead of Community Policing Forum elections
Councillor candidate Mlungisi Zondi said he was content with the turnout across the ward. However, he raised concern about registered voters who arrived at a station only to be told they are meant to vote elsewhere. “It is very painful seeing voters going back. Even if it is just a single person. It is really sad,” Zondi said.
IEC officials confirmed that some voters know where they are supposed to vote but still go to a different station, something the commission has consistently urged voters not to do.
Nonetheless, voting has run smoothly at most of the seven stations in Ward 75, without any significant disruptions.
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