Elections
latest news & developments
Shorter queues, high satisfaction — but voter trust in IEC slips
An HSRC survey reveals South African voters experienced shorter queues and were satisfied with the 2026 municipal elections, even as trust in the IEC continues to slip.
US midterm elections and Israel vote raise risk of renewed Iran war
Following pivotal elections in both Israel and the United States, diverging political imperatives for Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump could either reignite war with Iran or…
Why voters must put competence before race
South Africa's democracy can only deliver prosperity and better services when citizens move beyond racial and ethnic voting lines to demand accountability and competence.
DA keeps mayoral options open as coalition talks loom
The Democratic Alliance is keeping its options open regarding mayoral chains in key metros like Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni as political parties prepare for critical coalition…
ANC may need a blue lifeline in Joburg
As election results point to a tight race in Johannesburg, the ANC may be pushed toward an uneasy coalition with the DA despite fierce resistance from local party leaders.
A historic election for South Africa
Fed up with widespread service delivery failures and unstable municipal coalitions, millions of South Africans took to the polls in a pivotal local government election defined by…
15.9 million voters reshape local politics as coalitions loom
Voter turnout rebounded to 15.9 million in the 2026 local government elections, driven by middle-class frustration over service delivery failures as preliminary results point to…
Editorial: Why you needed to vote
As power and water outages struck Gauteng on election day, widespread voter apathy served only to protect the failing politicians responsible for crumbling municipal services.
‘They have forgotten us’
In Tembisa, community members grapple with voter fatigue, persistent service delivery failures, and shifting political loyalties as traditional parties lose ground.
Sophiatown’s patience is wearing thin
Frustrated by mounting crime, dry taps, and uncollected rubbish, Sophiatown residents headed to the polls demanding urgent solutions and accountable leadership.
Beyond the X lies a constitutional promise
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka examines the constitutional mandate of local government, calling on coalition leaders and municipal officials to move past factional politics and…
Sharing power is easy; governing is hard
As South African municipalities grapple with water crises and unstable leadership, coalition governance faces a crucial test: moving beyond survival politics toward transparent,…
The vote was never the whole of freedom
Following local government elections, South Africa faces the critical task of translating the vote into municipal accountability, ethical governance, and sustained civic…
A moment in history
Reflecting on her granddaughter’s mock school election, Professor Thuli Madonsela examines why local government is the vital frontline of democracy, social justice, and ethical…
The ballot box is only the beginning
South Africa’s local elections present a crucial test of electoral integrity and democratic resilience, demonstrating whether declining support for ruling parties can coexist…