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Local elections 2021: news & insights

Keep up to date with the latest on the local elections

'We supported DA in metros to weaken ANC,' says Malema

Weakening the ANC by keeping it out of power and leveling the playing field for the EFF had been the reason behind the ...

Siviwe Feketha
Political reporter

'We gave the ANC a chance to salvage itself': Malema on voting with the DA

EFF leader Julius Malema says the ANC has itself to blame for the dismal loss of power in some of the country’s richest ...

ANC was punished at the polls for not convincing SA it was dealing with ...

The ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula admitted that voters punished the party for being unconvincing in its promise ...

READER LETTER | Elections perpetuate oppression of our people

Now that the elections and swearing in of councillors and mayors is almost done, it's time to educate the voters about ...

By READER LETTER

Double blow for ANC in Ekurhuleni as DA takes mayor, speaker posts

The DA's Refiloe Nt'sekhe has dismissed claims she absconded from the Ekurhuleni council meeting at which a new mayor ...

By Nonkululeko Njilo and and Penwell Dlamini

EFF, ActionSA’s support came with no strings attached, says DA

Addressing DA supporters following the party's big wins in Ekurhuleni and the City of Johannesurg on Monday, DA leader ...

Nomazima Nkosi
Senior reporter

Masina promises new DA mayor peaceful power transfer, cooperation

Former Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina has committed the ANC into working with the new DA led-administration to ...

DA has to govern Joburg by consensus: Phalatse

The people of Johannesburg did not give the DA a clear majority, therefore the party cannot be expected to exclusively ...

Nomazima Nkosi
Senior reporter

Small parties to the fore in hung municipalities

Smaller political parties who hold sway over who gets to govern hung municipalities across the country, including the ...

Isaac Mahlangu
Senior reporter

Meshoe calls for stability in hungcouncils

ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe wants the looming coalition governments in hung councils to be vehicles to help ensure ...

By Isaac Mahlangu and Siviwe Feketha

Ramaphosa asks parties to work together

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the outcome of this year’s municipal elections as a clear expression from South ...

Siviwe Feketha
Political reporter

DA keeps Cape Town but with a reduced majority of 58%

It's official: The DA will govern Cape Town for another five years, but with a reduced majority.

Andisiwe Makinana
Political correspondent

IEC declares SA's elections 'free and fair', despite challenges

The electoral authority announced that the ANC had won the majority of the country's councils, but that 66 were "hung" ...

ANC wins broken Ditsobotla by 51.58%

The ANC has retained the dysfunctional Ditsobotla local municipality in Lichtenburg, North West, with a slight majority ...

Mpho Koka
Journalist

'There was a coalition before and it didn’t help us'

Residents from Gauteng metros have expressed mixed reactions to the prospects of coalition governments in their ...

By Mpho Koka, Promise Marupeng, Tankiso Makhetha and Keletso Mkhwanazi

"ANC losing support an indication of what may happen in 2024"

The ANC's poor showing in the local government elections which saw its national electoral support drop  below 50% for ...

By Isaac Mahlangu and Siviwe Feketha

Vuwani residents vote for ANC after a 10-year boycott

Residents of Vuwani in Limpopo, who boycotted voting in municipal elections in 2016 over demarcation issues, have ...

Jozi wards snatched from the big players

While many Johannesburg wards remained in the hands of political parties that previously ran them before the local ...

By Tankiso Makhetha and Yoliswa Sobuwa

IEC members ambushed in Mpumalanga after elections, votes secure

The ballot papers had been counted before the attack so the votes were not compromised.

Praying for a saviour in remote Matebeleng village

Community members of  Matebeleng - a remote village next to the N1 highway en-route to Polokwane say it is only God who ...

ANC enjoys lead in early voting results with five councils secured so far

As results for the municipal elections continued to trickle in on Tuesday morning, the ANC maintained its lead despite ...

Siviwe Feketha
Political reporter

‘Confident’ Malema says the EFF will win the local government elections ...

Malema said victory was imminent for the party and that the youth's vote could be decisive when all the votes are ...

Blind granny (90) losing hope for RDP house

All that 90-year-old blind granny Zithulele Manganye hopes her vote will get her is an RDP house.

By Keletso Mkhwanazi

Thembisa turnout 'worst ever'

Deep distrust, apathy, wariness and weariness - the mood in Thembisa, Ekhuruleni, on election day is palpable.

Gill Gifford
Senior journalist

Election hopes high in Emfuleni, but residents demand change

Residents in major townships in Emfuleni local municipality say they have cast their vote to bring about change that ...

Beer-drinking takes centre stage at dysfunctional Ditsobotla

It was a day of mixed emotions during election day on Monday as residents of the dysfunctional Ditsobotla in North West ...

Mpho Koka
Journalist

Man arrested for trying to vote twice

A man was arrested on Monday for trying to vote twice in the local government elections at the Sindawonye Primary ...

By Dimakatso Modipa

Former Joburg mayor promises to resolve Soweto electricity problems

Sowetans took to the streets on voting day to show their dissatisfaction at the lack of services and the rolling ...

Amanda Khoza
Presidency reporter

'They are all full of nonsense': Disillusionment and dissatisfaction in ...

Voting is slow in Nelmapius, and voters are generally not happy with their political leaders.

Graeme Hosken
Senior reporter

Juju Valley resident Molomo hopes voting will take her out of misery

After casting her vote, Shela Molomo got on with her day as she pushed a wheelbarrow to fetch water.

Marikana remains hot potato for political parties

Madoda Goniwe, who cast his vote at Marikana Combined School in ward 31, said tribalism and corruption had resulted in ...

Lindile Sifile
Journalist

INTERACTIVE MAPS, DATA & MORE: Use our elections website to find your voting station, browse past election results for your area in detail, and track real-time results. Can't see the map? Click here.


Residents vote to change Nyanga’s status as ...

Residents in Nyanga hope their votes in the 2021 municipal elections will help win the fight against crime in the Cape ...

KZN communities dig trenches, lock gates and ...

Road closures, locked gates, trenches and a voting station break-in were some of the incidents that hampered the ...

By Staff Reporter

Residents walk into voting stations to fetch water

"We have not had water in four days. This is the first time that Etwatwa has not come out in their numbers to vote in ...

Residents of dysfunctional Ditsobotla hoping for the best

Despite an almost two-hour delay to the start of voting at Thabo Mpempe Primary School, dozens of residents in the ...

Mpho Koka
Journalist

Thembisa turnout 'worst ever'

Deep distrust, apathy, wariness and weariness - the mood in Thembisa, Ekhuruleni, on election day is palpable.

Gill Gifford
Senior journalist

Motlanthe urges people to choose councillors who will give service

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe is hoping for less load-shedding.

Yoliswa Sobuwa
Journalist

The pain of not finding my name on the roll

Kaylee Veeran was looking forward to cast her vote at Hofland Park Recreational Centre in Johannesburg but her name was ...

Yoliswa Sobuwa
Journalist

Residents shut down polling station over lack of water

The community of Emaphupheni, near Daveyton on the East Rand, have shut down a voting station as they protest over ...

Makhabane, fellow stars vote for change

When gospel legend Sipho Makhabane cast his vote on Monday morning, he was voting for change and more development in ...

We need honest people not thieves - Mbeki

Mbeki was speaking at Holy Family College in Parktown where he casted his vote on Monday.

Yoliswa Sobuwa
Journalist

First time voters urge youth to come out in ...

First time voters have appealed to their generation to to go to the polls in numbers.

Karabo Ledwaba
Journalist

Voters in troubled Emfuleni municipality say they will cast votes for jobs ...

Residents of the troubled Emfuleni local municipality who cast their vote today say they are doing it for employment ...

Deliver on your promises, mom and daughter tell political parties as they ...

Soshanguve residents who came to cast their votes at Nchuncheko primary school are complaining about service delivery.

By Keletso Mkhwanazi

Orlando residents upbeat about voting despite electricity problems

Residents of Orlando in Soweto have vowed to vote, despite the lack of services in the area.

Tankiso Makhetha
Investigative reporter

"I woke up at 4.30am to cast my vote"

As the sun rose on election day, the first person to catch the rays while waiting at the gates of Sedi-Laka Primary ...

Thulani Mbele
Running Matters

READER LETTER | Court loss mustn’t overshadow IEC

Only the people can make a change in the SA political situation. The people of SA have the power to choose who leads ...

HEATHER THUYNSMA | Voters' actions during polls ultimately determine the ...

From New York’s bustling streets to the dusty roads of the rural community of Mankosi in the Eastern Cape, nearly half ...

By Heather Thuynsma

Opposition couldn't win in 2021, so they certainly won't now: Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has argued that the opposition failed to dislodge his party from power in the 2021 ...

Rivonia Circle launches doccie to up campaign to encourage voting

Civil organisation Rivonia Circle will, as part of its campaign to get more people to vote, launch a documentary which ...

By Koketso Ratsatsi
News Editor's Choice

Gauteng, IEC's biggest voting bloc, says it is ready for the polls

The IEC in Gauteng, which boasts the highest number of registered voters for the May 29 general elections, says it's ...

Sisanda Mbolekwa
Politics reporter

TARA ROOS | Active citizen engagement is vital in democratic process

As SA gears up for the 2024 general elections, discussions surrounding the electoral process have surged across social ...

By Tara Roos

SOWETAN | MK victory adds to ANC polls blues

The ANC suffered yet another blow yesterday when the high court in Durban dismissed its application to interdict the ...

READER LETTER | IEC should reconsider its decision

All this creates a suspicion of the IEC playing politics that could potentially get some questioning its independence ...

Security agencies will safeguard elections, IEC says ahead of May 29

The Electoral Commission of South Africa says it is confident law enforcement and security agencies will safeguard the ...

Sisanda Mbolekwa
Politics reporter

WATCH LIVE | IEC updates media on elections timetable

The Electoral Commission of South Africa is briefing the media on Tuesday on the latest developments regarding the ...

By TIMESLIVE

SOWETAN | ConCourt clarity on Zuma vital

Deputy chief justice Mandisa Maya aptly captured SA’s anticipation for the electoral court to release its reasons to ...

News Editor's Choice

‘Despite challenges, our democracy is in good health’ — Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa's democracy is in good health despite challenges more than a month before ...

Sisanda Mbolekwa
Politics reporter
News Editor's Choice

‘We must defend IEC’s independence’: Ramaphosa on its legal battle with MK ...

President Cyril Ramaphosa believes there is nothing sinister about the Electoral Commission approaching the ...

By SINESIPHO SCHRIEBER
News Editor's Choice

MP Mamabolo open to ANC talks before another legal bid over ‘manipulated ...

Despite ANC MP Boy Mamabolo feeling cheated of a parliamentary seat by the governing party, he is open to resolve the ...

By SINESIPHO SCHRIEBER

SOWETAN | Court rulingboost for MK party but...

The Electoral Court yesterday set aside a decision by the IEC to bar former president Jacob Zuma from standing for ...

MALAIKA MAHLATSI | Zuma can never return to Union Buildings, his IEC ...

Y-esterday Zuma won the appeal against his disqualification by the IEC to go to parliament.Whatever the legalities of ...

News Editor's Choice

DA wins against IEC in court bid to have SA expats vote at consulates

The DA has won its court case against the Electoral Commission of South Africa to have more voting stations for ...

Zuma's court win boosts MK's election campaign

Former president Jacob Zuma's victory in the Electoral Court yesterday will embolden his MK Party's campaign ahead of ...

Jeanette Chabalala
Senior Reporter

Lawbreakers should not be lawmakers – IEC counsel

"Serious lawbreakers should not be lawmakers." These are the words of the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) counsel ...

By Koena Mashale and Luyolo Mkentane

Breaking: Electoral Court rules Zuma can contest elections next month

Former president Jacob Zuma can contest the upcoming general elections.This after the Electoral Court dismissed the ...

By Sowetan Reporter

WATCH LIVE | MK Party challenges IEC decision to remove Zuma from ...

The MK Party is on Monday challenging the decision by the Electoral Commission of South Africa to remove its leader ...

By TimesLIVE

WATCH LIVE | Electoral court hearings on political party candidate lists

The Electoral Court is on Friday expected to hold virtual hearings on matters that must be resolved before the ...

By TimesLIVE
News Editor's Choice

IEC sets ground rules, calls for adherence to code of conduct for stable, ...

The Electoral Commission of South Africa has urged political parties to approach the upcoming polls with "peace and ...

Sisanda Mbolekwa
Politics reporter

WATCH LIVE | IEC hosts signing of Electoral Code of Conduct by political ...

The Electoral Commission of South Africa is hosting the signing ceremony of the Electoral Code of Conduct and ballot ...

By TimesLIVE

MALAIKA MAHLATSI | Lack of voter education threatens our democracy

April is Freedom Month – a month during which we commemorate our long walk to freedom.

OPINION

THAMSANQA D. MALINGA | Zuma has done more than Mbeki and co. for ANC's ...

I hold the opinion that the ANC's brown sheep and former president Jacob Zuma has done more for the ANC's election ...

By Thamsanqa D. Malinga

READER LETTER | Think deeply before you choose your leaders

South Africans, we’re a few days before the sixth municipal elections. Obviously, we know that the concept of service ...

By READER LETTER

LINDIWE SISULU | Hope is restoring ANC to heart of the people who love it

Usually, campaigning is an exciting exercise, spending more time on the ground with our people, listening and learning, ...

By Lindiwe Sisulu