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South Africans head to the polls today for the 2026 Local Government Elections, deciding who will manage their basic services for the next five years
More than 10,500 council seats are on the line across 257 municipalities, spanning 8 metros, 205 local councils, and 44 district councils
The country's biggest economic and administrative centres—including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and eThekwini—serve as the premier battlegrounds
Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni enter election day following years of shaky coalitions and revolving-door mayoral chains
KwaZulu-Natal's economic powerhouse, eThekwini, is expected to be one of the most unpredictable races on the national map, with the metro already run by a coalition
This election will reveal whether national governing partnerships hold favour at the community level or if opposition parties capitalise on local discontent

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Published 4 Nov 2026 at 7:20 AM

Local Government Elections 2026 LIVE: Polls Open as South Africans Choose Their Councils

by Byron Pillay

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Local Government Elections 2026: What South Africans need to know before casting their votes

Local Government Elections 2026: What South Africans need to know before casting their votes

South Africans will head to the polls on 4 November for the 2026 Local Government Elections, with the IEC outlining everything voters need to know.

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SA Government IEC South Africa South Africa Elections

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