Special voting for the 2026 Local Government Elections got off to a positive start on Monday, with voting beginning without incident at most stations across the country, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said.
“The Commission has recorded close to 99% of voting stations having opened on time at 8am,” the Commission’s Deputy Chief Electoral Commissioner, Masego Shiburi said.
Voting started slowly in the City of Cape Town, where at 10:30am stations in only 10 of the municipality’s 116 wards had opened for special votes. The Commission said efforts were underway to open the remaining stations.
READ | Delays in opening of some stations in W Cape on Special Voting Day 1
At the media briefing held at the Results Operation Centre (ROC), in Midrand, Shiburi said voters were being assisted smoothly in most cases, citing handheld barcode scanners linked to Voter Management Devices (VMDs).
The Commission also reported two serious incidents involving election officials. In the uKhahlamba district, a Deputy Presiding Officer was hit by a car while travelling to a voting station and taken to hospital.
In the North West, a Presiding Officer collapsed at her post and died. The IEC said it was supporting the affected officials and their families.
“Notwithstanding these unfortunate incidents, the Commission is overall establishing a strong performance across the country and expects further improvement on day two of special voting,” Mamabolo said.
Voters approved for special voting at a station may vote only at the station where they are registered. They must also present a valid South African identity document: a Smart ID Card, green barcoded ID book or Temporary Identity Certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
According to the IEC, stations will remain open until 5pm on Monday and Tuesday.
“A station may close after the first day if all approved voters have been served; it will reopen for ordinary voting on 4 November,” he said.
The Commission encourages voters to check their voting station details and sequence numbers before leaving home.
They can do so through:
– WhatsApp: 0600 88 0000
– IEC Contact Centre: 0800 11 8000
– SMS: 32810 (R1 per SMS)
– The IEC’s zero-rated website, by clicking the Live Chat icon
The Contact Centre is available from 7am to 7pm on Monday and Tuesday, and from 7am to 9pm on Wednesday, 4 November.
Shiburi thanked voters, election officials and stakeholders for helping ensure a smooth start to special voting and encouraged continued support for a peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.
