The Electoral Commission (IEC) says 15.9 million South Africans took part in the 2026 local government elections, including special voters, up from the roughly 14.5 million cited earlier in the week. Preliminary turnout and final results are still being determined.
Turnout
The government news service reported that turnout in KwaZulu-Natal was 48.7%, against a national average of 45.8%. IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said a breakdown of young and first-time voters will come only after counting ends.
Complaints
Sheburi said the IEC had received just over 800 complaints by Wednesday night, most about voting-station staff preventing party agents from observing voting and counting. About 106 remain open.
Objections were due by 17:00 on Friday. Sheburi said: "Lawfully, the Commission cannot release or declare the results before 17:00 hours tomorrow afternoon." Results slips are provisional until the Commission announces the final result, he said.
Where capturing stood
As of 09:00 on Thursday, 23,444 of the 66,073 expected results slips had been scanned and 22,983 captured. Of those captured, 16,791 had been independently audited. Results from 18 local municipalities had been concluded.
IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya later said more than 60% of the 66,073 results had been captured by 5pm on Thursday.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said long ballots slowed capturing in the metros: "in all the metros, the ballots were quite long."
Disinformation
IEC Vice Chairperson Janet Love urged people to report disinformation on the Real411 platform, saying the Commission continues to urge people to forward posts they want clarified.
What we do not yet know
- The final turnout figure, which the IEC has described as still to be confirmed.
- How the 106 open complaints will be resolved, and whether any will affect results.
