[Live] 2026 local elections: Gauteng voters brave long queues as Election Day unfolds
Voters turned out early across Gauteng, with long queues reported in Tshwane and Alberton as residents called for better service delivery and accountability.
Published at 15:50
Tshwane and Alberton voters brave long queues as election day unfolds
Voters turned out early at polling stations across Gauteng today (November 4) as the 2026 Local Government Elections got under way.
With temperatures rising and queues building, mayoral candidates urged residents to remain patient and make their voices heard.
DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink cast his ballot at Laerskool Wapadrand in Pretoria East. He encouraged voters to persevere despite long queues, saying elections offered an opportunity to bring about change, reports Pretoria Rekord.
He also stressed the importance of party agents monitoring the counting process to ensure votes were accounted for.
Freedom Front Plus mayoral candidate Willie Spies also expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout.
“This is a matter of life and death,” he said, adding that his party had campaigned for 10 months.
Long queues in Alberton
Meanwhile, about 1 200 residents had cast their votes at the Alberton Rugby Club voting station, where long queues formed as voters waited for their turn, reports Alberton Record.
Young people were among those turning out in numbers, with some residents spending several hours in the queue.
Lizette Kasselman said she had waited about three hours before casting her ballot.
She said she wanted to see improved service delivery and greater accountability from elected representatives.
“As a ratepayer, I want to see what I pay for. From now on, no more electricity cuts and no more lies,” she said.
Her concerns reflected residents’ expectations that rates and taxes should translate into reliable services and better accountability.
Residents share their experiences
Back in Pretoria East, resident Stefan Herold said the turnout at the Wapadrand voting station reassured him that others shared his belief in the importance of democracy.
Walter Smuts said he would return to vote despite the long queues, describing participation as a responsibility of all South Africans.
Hannah Rabie praised the IEC’s arrangements and said she was pleased to have voted early with friends.
Watch video here:
Published at 15:17
Craigavon voter returns to polling station on crutches after hit-and-run
A woman from Craigavon, a suburb in the Fourways area of northern Johannesburg, returned to her voting station on crutches today (November 4) after a car knocked her to the ground and drove over her while she was waiting in the queue to cast her ballot.
Chantelle Gribble said she had arrived early, hoping to vote before the queues grew, when the incident happened, reports the Fourways Review.
“As we were standing in the queue, someone just drove into me, knocked me to the ground and then proceeded to drive over me,” she said.
Gribble said fellow voters banged on the car and screamed at the driver to stop, but the vehicle continued moving.
One person managed to capture the car’s registration number, while another helped arrange an ambulance to take her to hospital.
Gribble sustained a tyre burn and skin damage to the back of her leg, as well as a fractured bone in her foot. She said she was due to undergo a scan on Monday to determine whether her Achilles tendon had also been injured.
She planned to open a case after attending to her child and having lunch.
Despite her injuries, Gribble was determined to vote.
“I didn’t even want the ambulance to take me to the hospital. I wanted them to bring me straight here, but they said they had to take me to the hospital first,” she said. “I was just adamant to vote. It’s time.”
Service delivery concerns
Gribble described voting as a responsibility she takes seriously, but said her decision to participate in the elections was also driven by frustration over service delivery in her neighbourhood.
Despite living in what she described as an affluent area, she said residents were not seeing value for the rates they paid.
“In this area, especially, there are very high taxpayers, and we don’t see the value for our money, which is very frustrating,” she said.
Gribble pointed to the deteriorating condition of Ronda Road as one example of the infrastructure problems residents wanted addressed.
She said frustration over service delivery had strengthened her determination to vote, adding that residents wanted services and infrastructure to function as they should.
“We know that things can operate like they should, and therefore, I think, yeah, it’s important to vote,” she said.
Ward councillor praises her determination
Ward 115 councillor Mark van der Merwe said the incident was particularly concerning because Gribble had been standing at the side of the road when the car struck her.
“She was standing in the line, and somebody drove into her and drove over her, fracturing her leg. Yet she still came back to vote, which is absolutely legendary,” he said.
Van der Merwe said Gribble’s husband, who was standing nearby holding their one-year-old baby, was fortunate not to have been struck.
“If somebody can get hit, run over, come back and vote, anybody can get out there and vote,” he said, encouraging residents to participate in the elections.
He also urged voters to remain alert to their surroundings and take precautions when travelling to voting stations.
“Please try and stay on the pavements, try and be aware of your surroundings,” he said, adding that residents should take care when crossing roads.
Voting process at Crawford station
Providing an update on voting at the Crawford voting station, Van der Merwe said the process had initially been slow but was becoming more organised as election officials settled into a rhythm.
“The lines are starting to move a lot faster,” he said.
With temperatures rising, he encouraged residents to carry water, wear hats and bring umbrellas while waiting to vote.
“Make sure you’ve got some water, you’ve got an umbrella, you’ve got a hat, and get out there and vote,” he said.
Douglasdale police station commander Brigadier Veeshani Arikum said police had not yet received any reports about the accident.
Published at 14:00
Mbeki cautions against political fragmentation as he votes in Johannesburg
Former president Thabo Mbeki cast his vote at Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg, warning that fragmented election results could create challenges for local government, reports the Rosebank Killarney Gazette.
Speaking to the media after voting, Mbeki said the emergence of numerous political parties could result in hung councils, making it difficult for municipalities to agree on a common direction.
He said the reasons behind the fragmentation needed to be confronted and addressed.
“Things have gone wrong. It was also evident in the population’s previous votes. That’s why you’ll find a lot of fragmentation in terms of the voting results and the many emerging political parties,” he said.
Ballot shortage briefly disrupts voting at Kempton Park school
Voting across Kempton Park proceeded largely smoothly on Wednesday, although a ballot paper shortage at Edleen Primary School temporarily disrupted the process.
Ward 104 councillor Tracey Lourenco said all five voting stations in her ward opened on time. These included Mooifontein Primary School, Edleen Laerskool, Edleen Primary School, Van Riebeeck Park Primary School and Westside Primary School, reports the Kempton Express.
However, Edleen Primary School ran out of ballot papers at about 10:00, despite having more than 3 000 registered voters.
According to Lourenco, the station initially had only 300 ballot papers.
“They ran out of ballots at about 10:00, which was unacceptable. I informed the head office and spoke to the presiding officer. They did bring more ballots, but it should never have happened,” she said.
Voting had resumed and was proceeding smoothly by midday.
Lourenco said queues were relatively long at some of the larger voting stations, although overall voter turnout appeared moderate at that stage.
She also welcomed the number of young people who had turned out to vote and encouraged more residents to visit their polling stations during the afternoon and evening.
Updated at 13:22
Zille raises Johannesburg’s water crisis
DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille also visited Emmarentia Primary School to cast her vote, reports Northcliff Melville Times.
She was welcomed by former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, who presented her with a bouquet of proteas.
Speaking to the media, Zille identified Johannesburg’s water crisis as one of the most urgent challenges she would prioritise if elected mayor.
She said approximately 50 suburbs had experienced water shortages over the preceding weekend, highlighting the inequality between residents who could afford alternative water supplies and those who could not.
Zille said her immediate priority would be to mobilise resources to address the crisis, followed by longer-term infrastructure repairs and improvements.
Power cuts and ballot-box concerns disrupt voting at Johannesburg stations
Voting at several Johannesburg stations was disrupted by power outages, delays and operational problems on Wednesday morning, while ward representatives raised concerns about ballot boxes not being properly sealed and voters struggling to verify their registration, reports Northcliff Melville Times.
The problems were reported in wards 87, 88, 98 and 99, with issues ranging from a delayed opening at Emmarentia Primary School to electricity-related disruptions at Hoërskool Linden and Robin Hills Primary School.
At Emmarentia Primary School in Ward 88, voting started 15 minutes late after Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials struggled to fit the different sides of the ballot-box lids together and secure the seals.
The station opened at 07:15, by which time approximately 150 people were already waiting to vote.
Officials worked through the backlog and voting proceeded smoothly thereafter.
Gerhard Heydenrych, the DA’s voting station captain, said turnout was approaching 15% of registered voters at around 10:00, with residents continuing to arrive throughout the morning.
Power outages and ballot-box concerns
In Ward 99, councillor Hendrik Bodenstein reported that a power outage at Hoërskool Linden was affecting voting operations.
The electricity disruption also contributed to queues not moving at Robin Hills Primary School, which he described as a major concern.
Bodenstein further raised concerns about access for people with physical impairments who had allegedly been unable to apply for special votes and were not being allowed to vote from their vehicles.
He said the matter had been raised with the IEC.
Meanwhile, outgoing councillor Kyle Jacobs reported concerns about ballot boxes at Melpark Primary School and Hope Church in Auckland Park, which he said could not be closed or properly sealed.
Jacobs alleged that officials at Melpark had proposed using tape to secure the ballot boxes, which he considered inadequate.
He also reported difficulties contacting IEC officials for assistance, slow voter management devices and restrictions on political party representatives engaging with voters outside voting stations.
At Melpark Primary School, councillor candidate Jonathan Thompson said some voters were being told that their identity documents did not show them as registered at the station, despite an IEC registration check indicating otherwise.
Voters were advised to check the printed voters’ roll while the matter was investigated. Thompson said the issue would be escalated to the IEC.
Queues move slowly at other stations
In Ward 98, councillor Beverly Jacobs reported slow-moving queues at several voting stations, including Raddford House, where operational challenges were affecting the pace of voting.
At Hope Church in Ward 87, councillor candidate Jonathan Thompson also raised concerns about a ballot-box-related issue, which he said had been escalated to the IEC.
Despite this, he said queues were moving at a reasonable pace and voter management devices were operating properly.
Thompson welcomed the additional resources provided by the IEC compared with the 2024 elections, particularly the increased number of queue marshals.
He said the station had only two queue marshals during the previous elections, while problems with voter management devices had forced officials to mark voters off manually.
He added that the other voting stations in Ward 87 were operating smoothly.
Published at 12:00
Tsakani youth divided over voting as service delivery frustrations mount
Just after 07:00, a group of young men were playing soccer across the road from Mountain of God voting station in Ward 84, Ext 10, treating election day like any other day, reports the African Reporter.
Residents said the area continued to struggle with water shortages, poor roads, dirty streets, uncollected rubbish, inadequate housing and limited electricity access.
Nineteen-year-old Yamkelani Ralayo said water outages occurred up to four times a week, while 23-year-old Themba Khoza called for a proper sports field where young people could play soccer.
Both said they would not vote, arguing that politicians benefited from elections while residents continued to face poor service delivery.
However, first-time voter Sbonisile Maseko, 23, said she was excited to vote for change and encouraged other young people to participate.
She urged young residents not to give up hope but to use their votes to push for the changes they wanted to see in their communities.
Watch video here:
Published at 11: 52
EFF mayoral candidate calls for dignity and hope in Johannesburg
EFF Johannesburg mayoral candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng urged residents, particularly young people, not to give up on voting as she cast her ballot in Parkmore.
Mofokeng voted at George Lea Park in Ward 90 today, saying she hoped residents would use their voices to shape a future built on dignity, better service delivery and opportunities, reports the Sandton Chronicle.
She described election day as the culmination of weeks of campaigning and said it was now up to voters to decide the city’s future.
Acknowledging that many young people were disappointed and exhausted by their circumstances, she urged them to exercise their democratic right.
“Many of us have learned to survive before we could dream and that’s why I’m here to bring hope,” she said.
Mofokeng said residents had raised concerns about healthcare, ageing infrastructure, recreational facilities, childcare and the safety of children during the campaign.
She also questioned the perception that the city lacked resources to address these challenges, attributing this to corruption and fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Updated at 11:51
Kempton Park voters call for better service delivery
Residents of Kempton Park raised concerns about potholes, broken streetlights, electricity interruptions and water supply as they cast their votes in the local government elections.
As reported by the Kempton Express, voting at Laerskool Birchleigh was calm, with queues moving steadily as young, first-time and older voters made their way to the ballot boxes.
Residents said they hoped the elections would bring improvements to local service delivery and make elected representatives more accountable to their communities.
Ntokozo Biyela said he wanted a better community and expected those elected to honour their promises.
Zakhele Ncongwane said the standard of living in Kempton Park had declined since he bought his house and called for change.
Sarie du Toit said she voted with the future of her children and grandchildren in mind, adding that she hoped to see improvements in potholes and streetlights.
Published at 11:18
Mashaba confident ActionSA can win Johannesburg
ActionSA president and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba expressed confidence in his party’s chances as he cast his vote at Sandton Fire Station earlier this morning, reports the Sandton Chronicle.
Mashaba said the party had spent six months preparing for the local government elections and had already identified 10 mayoral committee members (MMCs) ready to serve if it secured the mandate to govern.
He said his administration would aim to hit the ground running, with unemployment, poverty and social development among the city’s key challenges.
Mashaba urged residents, particularly in Soweto and Alexandra, to turn out and vote rather than leave decisions about the city’s future to others.
Published at 11:11
Roodekrans voter hopes her ballot brings change
Uncollected rubbish, potholes and unemployment were among the issues that drove Ward 83 resident Joyce Hlongwane to the polls, reports Roodepoort Record.
Hlongwane said weeks of uncollected rubbish and poor service delivery had motivated her to vote in the hope of seeing change.
“It feels good that I have made my mark today. In my street there are potholes with rocks that are damaging cars, and there is also the high, unexplained unemployment rate,” she said.
By 09:52, 569 voters had cast their ballots at Laerskool Roodekrans. The presiding officer confirmed that the station was operating with one scanner fewer than required but said queues were moving swiftly.
About 4 000 voters were registered at the station, with 169 special votes recorded the previous day.
Updated at 11:08
Pretoria voter walks 1km to make her mark
Veralda Mazzone walked 1km and waited two hours in the queue to cast her vote at Brooklyn School in eastern Pretoria on Wednesday, saying the effort was worth it, reports Pretoria Rekord.
Mazzone made her way to the voting station to exercise her democratic right during the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Despite the long walk and lengthy wait, she said it was worth the effort to have her say in the country’s future.
Watch video here:
Published at 10:20
Power outages, ballot box concerns disrupt voting at Northcliff stations
Voting at several polling stations in the Northcliff, Melville and Auckland Park areas was affected by operational problems, including power outages, slow-moving queues and concerns about ballot boxes, reports the Northcliff Melville Times.
Outgoing councillor Kyle Jacobs raised concerns about ballot boxes at Melpark Primary School and Hope Church that he alleged could not be properly closed or sealed.
Ward 99 councillor Hendrik Bodenstein reported that a power outage at Hoërskool Linden was affecting voting, while queues at Robin Hills Primary School were also not moving because of electricity problems.
Voters at Melpark Primary School also reportedly experienced difficulties when their IDs did not reflect them as registered at the station, despite an IEC registration check indicating otherwise.
Meanwhile, Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs reported slow-moving queues at Raddford House, while candidate Jonathan Thompson said voting at Hope Church was progressing at a reasonable pace despite the ballot-box concerns.
Other concerns included access for voters with physical impairments who had allegedly been unable to cast special votes and difficulties reaching IEC officials, although some candidates welcomed improved queue management and voter management devices compared with the 2024 elections.
Updated at 10:16
Queues cause a hectic start at Norscot Manor
Voting got off to a hectic start at Norscot Manor in Fourways, where officials and party representatives were working to organise queues and direct voters to the correct streams.
Ayanda Ntshingila, from Fourways Review, spoke to Ward 106 councillor and Democratic Alliance candidate Chris Santana, who said the voting station served approximately 7 500 registered voters across seven streams.
Santana said the initial confusion arose when voters were directed to the top of the building, resulting in congestion and people joining the wrong queues.
He was working to reorganise the queues from the bottom of the building to help voters find the correct streams without having to move around or join another queue.
His aim was to make the process as smooth as possible, with a target of keeping waiting times to no longer than 15 minutes once the queues had been organised.
Santana could not yet confirm whether all ballot papers were available, saying his immediate priority was resolving the queue-management challenges.
Despite the hectic start, he welcomed the turnout and said it was encouraging to see residents coming out to exercise their democratic right.
Published at 09:37
We’ll keep you in the loop with breaking news, live updates, videos, photos and snippets from the people and places shaping today’s elections.
Who’s turning up? Where are the queues building? Which political heavyweights are making their rounds? And what are voters saying about the future of their communities?
Keep your eyes on this blog for the political ins and outs, the stories worth knowing and the moments you won’t want to miss.
Whether you’re following the action from the comfort of your couch or getting your thumb inked at a voting station, we’ve got Gauteng covered.
Stay with us. Gauteng is voting, and we’re bringing you the action as it unfolds.
Hot under the collar? Gauteng voters brace for sizzling election day
It’s not just the political temperature that’s rising. Gauteng voters heading to the polls today can expect plenty of sunshine and sweltering conditions as the mercury climbs above 30°C in parts of the province.
If you’re planning to make your cross today, remember to pack some water, slap on sunscreen and perhaps grab a hat. The weather is adding its own heat to election day.
According to forecasts reported by The Citizen, Johannesburg can expect temperatures of around 30°C today, while Pretoria is heading for approximately 32°C.
The heat is expected to intensify as the week progresses, with temperatures forecast to reach 32°C in Johannesburg and 34°C in Pretoria by Friday.
While isolated afternoon showers could offer some relief, voters should be prepared for hot conditions, particularly if they face long queues at voting stations.
Remember to stay hydrated, seek shade where possible and check on elderly voters and anyone who may struggle in the heat.
Midrand voters head to polls amid political shake-up and service delivery concerns
Midrand residents are heading to the polls today (November 4), against a backdrop of political changes, fierce ward contests and growing frustration over municipal service delivery, reports Midrand Reporter.
Several familiar councillors are not returning, while party defections and new candidates have reshaped the political landscape across Greater Midrand, Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge and surrounding communities.
The competition is particularly intense in Wards 112, 80 and 110, where 53, approximately 55 and 56 candidates respectively are contesting the ward councillor positions. Ward 132 is also attracting attention, with incumbent DA councillor Annette Deppe seeking another term after more than a decade in office, against approximately 52 candidates.
The election comes amid residents’ concerns about water shortages, electricity interruptions, deteriorating roads and refuse collection challenges. Deppe said voters were experiencing a mixture of frustration, anticipation and hope for change, adding that there was a growing desire for accountable and functional local government.
With changes to Johannesburg’s ward boundaries adding another dimension to the contest, today’s results will determine who represents these communities for the next five years.
Randburg voting stations hit by technical glitches as queues build and delays mount
Randburg residents are turning out to vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections, with encouraging voter participation reported across several wards this morning. However, technical problems with voter management devices have caused delays and long queues at several voting stations in Wards 134, 104 and 117, reports Randburg Sun.
In Ward 134, queues are building up at Boksruin Centre, Randpark Primary and Randpark High School, where faulty devices forced officials to switch to manual processing. Councillor Devon Steenkamp said voters were arriving in growing numbers, but the manual process was slowing down voting.
Ward 104 has experienced similar device problems, although councillor Emi Koekemoer reported good turnout at all five voting stations, with queues already forming. Robin Hills Primary only opened after an hour-long delay, with councillor Hendrik Bodenstein blaming slow voter management devices for the backlog.
Long queues and further logistical challenges were also reported in other areas. Councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete said most voting stations in her ward were busy, while Bordeaux Primary was still awaiting ballots from the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
