[Live] 2026 Local Elections: EFF mayoral candidate calls for dignity and hope in Johannesburg
EFF Johannesburg mayoral candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng urged disillusioned voters to reclaim their hope through the ballot, promising a vision for the city centred on dignity, opportunity and improved service delivery.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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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.
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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.
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