In brief
South Africa’s local elections saw 2.65 million special ballots approved amid 94% station punctuality, yet officials warned of 20 deaths linked to political violence. Analysts cite high councillor salaries and economic stakes as drivers of the unrest, while an audit report revealed only nine percent of municipalities achieved clean audits. President Ramaphosa called for justice and said violence had no place in democracy.
On Monday, November 2, South Africa’s special voting for local government elections commenced with 2.65 million approved applications, 94 % of polling stations opening on time, while officials cautioned that the final phase of the vote was shadowed by rising political violence.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), led by Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi, reported that the process began well nationwide, though "we got off to a slow start in some parts of Cape Town. By 10:30 a.m. (GMT 0830), we were yet to open voting stations in 10 of the 116 wards," Sheburi said. The delay was caused by a Constitutional Court ruling that ordered the reprinting of 33 million ballot papers, a decision that had also resulted in two incidents involving IEC officials: a road accident in KwaZulu‑Natal and the collapse of an official in the North West Province earlier in the day.
While the IEC continued evening‑hour outreach, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo noted that 678,000 voters would receive home visits for those unable to attend polling stations. "IEC officials will visit these voters at the addresses provided in their applications," Mamabolo urged, warning that a second visit would not be attempted if a voter was absent.
Against this logistical backdrop, security officials warned of sharp increases in election‑related deaths. Chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, Tebello Mosikili, said that 20 people had been killed in incidents involving political representatives, party members and supporters, with seven arrests made. "We remain particularly concerned about incidents involving the loss of life during the election period," Mosikili said, calling for a peaceful and secure environment.
"We remain particularly concerned about incidents involving the loss of life during the election period,"
He added that the violence was not confined to political rivalry, but was intertwined with economic benefits tied to municipal office, pointing to the fact that a ward councillor can earn more than 25,000 rand (about US 1,500) a month before allowances – a substantial sum in a country where the official unemployment rate sits at around 33 % and the national minimum wage is nearly 6,000 rand. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI‑TOC) documented at least 43 people killed in 45 attacks from January to September, compared with 23 killings in the same period last year.
Julian Rademeyer, an analyst with GI‑TOC, said the "political competition at the local level had become increasingly intertwined with economic and other interests." His October report highlighted the growing nexus between economic stakes and violent clashes.
"Political competition at the local level had become increasingly intertwined with economic and other interests,"
President Cyril Ramaphosa, campaigning in KwaZulu‑Natal earlier in the week, called for those responsible for political killings to face justice, stressing that "such violence had no place in a democratic society." He vowed to hold accountable any individuals who threatened the integrity of the election process.
"Such violence had no place in a democratic society,"
Beyond security concerns, the elections come amid a heightened focus on municipal governance. Auditor‑General Tsakani Maluleke’s June report noted that only 39 of South Africa’s 257 municipalities achieved clean audits for the 2024‑25 financial year, and none of the eight metropolitan municipalities produced a clean audit. The audit shortfall underscored public frustration over perceived mismanagement in local councils, adding pressure on aspirants seeking office.
The combination of a crowded special voting schedule, high expectations from voters, and a growing record of political violence underscores the fraught nature of South Africa’s municipal elections. As polling booths opened across the country, all eyes remain fixed on Cape Town’s stalled wards, the delayed ballot reprint, and the escalating tension that could define this election’s legacy.