Parliament has called on South Africans to exercise their democratic right this week, while emphasising that voting is not only about electing councillors but also about determining who will represent communities, oversee municipal service delivery and hold municipal administrations accountable.
South Africans will head to the polls on Wednesday 4 November 2026 to cast their votes in South Africa’s Local Government Elections, while Special voting started on Monday and will continue until Tuesday.
Special voting enables registered voters who may be unable to reach voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, as well as those who may, for various reasons, be unable to vote in person on Election Day, to cast their ballots.
The Presiding Officers of Parliament, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, encouraged voters to familiarise themselves with the candidates and political parties contesting the elections and to make informed choices based on the needs and aspirations of their communities.
“Furthermore, they remind South Africans that democratic participation does not end at the ballot box. Residents have a continuing responsibility to engage their councillors, participate in municipal planning and budgeting processes, and hold elected representatives accountable for service delivery commitments.
“As special voting begins, the Presiding Officers wish all eligible special voters well and urge those voting on 4 November, particularly young and first-time voters, to participate peacefully, responsibly and in large numbers,” Parliament said.
They also encourage voters to verify their voting details through the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and to follow official electoral information.
Voters may only vote at the voting station where they are registered.
The Electoral Commission urges all voters to check their voting station details before Election Day.
Voters can do so by sending their ID number via WhatsApp to 0600 88 0000 or by SMS to 32810, at a cost of R1 per SMS. Voters will receive the name of their registered voting station and their voters’ roll sequence number.
Providing this sequence number to election officials on Election Day will help them locate voters on the voters’ roll more quickly. –SAnews.gov.za
Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.
