WATCH: DA, ActionSA and BOSA raise election counting concerns
The DA says a Polokwane voting station recorded more votes than registered voters, as other parties also raised disputes at the Limpopo results centre.
POLOKWANE – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded a full recount at a voting station in Ward 20 in Polokwane, alleging irregularities after claiming more votes were tallied across the three ballots than the number of registered voters at the voting station.
DA provincial Party Liaison Committee (PLC) member in Limpopo Desiree van der Walt said only about 6 100 voters were registered at the Flora Park Comprehensive School voting station, “but more than 7 000 votes were tallied across the three ballots for ward, proportional representation and district”.
Watch: DA Limpopo provincial PLC member Desiree van der Walt discusses the party’s objection in Ward 20 and its bid for a recount at Flora Park Comprehensive School. #GetUpShowUpVote #WozaLGE2026 #IMadeMyMark #Polokwane https://t.co/Ys6lplb8YD
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 6, 2026
She said “the same totals were repeated for different parties across different ballots, with different parties all getting 100, 200 and 300 on the same ballot”.
“That is impossible,” she said.
READ MORE: Arrest made after fatal stabbing near Flora Park voting station
Van der Walt said the DA tallied all three streams itself and its totals differ from the official totals. The party wants a recount with different officials and is waiting for the PLC to decide when it will happen.
She also said party agents felt unsafe at the station.
“There was political interference, the station was not manned well, doors were open, and people wearing political logos were coming in and out as they pleased,” she said. “They want free and fair elections for everybody.”
The objection was one of several raised at the Results Operations Centre at The Ranch Resort.
DA provincial leader Jacques Smalle said the party had lodged official objections and that recounts were under way at some voting stations.
Watch: DA Limpopo provincial leader Jacques Smalle speaks to Review Online about the party’s election objections, improved results and the prospect of hung municipalities across Limpopo. #GetUpShowUpVote #WozaLGE2026 #IMadeMyMark #Polokwane https://t.co/IyBAQzKkmJ
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 6, 2026
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Parties raise counting concerns
Build One South Africa Capricorn regional chairperson Ngako Setjie said results were coming in very slowly, especially in Polokwane, where there were many disputes.
“Some presiding officers chased party agents away from voting stations,” he said. “Ballot boxes arrived from other stations without agents being properly briefed or the boxes being properly sealed.”
Watch: Ngako Setjie, BOSA’s Capricorn regional chairperson, discusses alleged election irregularities, disputes in Polokwane and concerns over the counting process with Review Online. #GetUpShowUpVote #WozaLGE2026 #IMadeMyMark #Polokwane https://t.co/O44u4WMHB3
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 6, 2026
He called on the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) “to train its officials better and to speed up counting”.
ActionSA provincial treasurer Tonic Manchidi said the party had written to the IEC commissioners over the MP Malatjie voting station.
He alleged that ActionSA and other party agents were not informed how many ballot papers had been issued at the station and therefore could not accept the result.
“ActionSA wants a rerun and is waiting for a swift response from the IEC,” he said.
Manchidi also raised a dispute at a voting station in Mako, Sekhukhune, where he alleged that an ANC leader campaigned inside the demarcated voting station. He said a criminal case had been opened and was being investigated by Nebo police.
READ ALSO: ActionSA seeks election re-run at Seshego voting station
Watch: ActionSA provincial treasurer Tonic Manchidi speaks to Review Online about the party’s objections to the election results, its call for a rerun at MP Malatjie Primary School and why he believes Polokwane could be a hung council. #WozaLGE2026 #IMadeMyMark #Polokwane https://t.co/yKxqNmyouY
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 6, 2026
Hung councils and coalitions
Smalle said the DA had improved its overall performance and hoped to achieve a double-digit vote share once counting was complete. He also claimed the party had taken three wards from the ANC.
He predicted that nearly seven municipalities in Limpopo, mainly in the Waterberg District, including Polokwane and Maruleng, could end up with hung councils.
Smalle said the ANC had already approached the DA in Maruleng, while smaller parties had also made contact regarding possible coalition talks.
“The DA will not join hands with just anyone. Any partner must be credible, with no bad history, and must agree to good governance, accountability, basic services and putting voters first.”
He added that the party had made significant gains in Modimolle-Mookgophong, Bela-Bela and Lephalale, where support had grown from single figures to nearly 20%.
Manchidi said the party was contesting 11 of Limpopo’s 22 municipalities and was encouraged by its performance with about half the votes counted. He said ActionSA was running second in every ward it had contested.
Manchidi predicted that Ba-Phalaborwa and Polokwane would both become hung councils and said the party expected to play a key role in coalition negotiations.
“Ba-Phalaborwa is hanging and the party will go into coalition to deliver services. Polokwane is definitely going to hang. ActionSA will be the kingmaker in Polokwane Local Municipality.”
He said ActionSA was willing to work with any party committed to improving service delivery, provided coalition partners prioritised tackling corruption and illegal immigration.
“It is not just about politics, it is about services.”
