This dossier follows preparations for South Africa’s local elections, special voting and established results.
Last updated : 3 key moments
Photograph published by SAnews with its 3 November 2026 special-voting report. Credit: SAnews / GCIS; reuse permitted with credit. — SAnews / GCIS — reproduction autorisée avec crédit : https://www.sanews.gov.za/node/85408 ; aucune modification.
Where things stand
As of 3 November 2026, special voting has ended. The IEC reports a preliminary 1,425,942 voters; the main election is scheduled for 4 November and no result is established.
Reported information
South Africa ends special voting, reports 1.43 million participants
Special voting for South Africa’s municipal elections ended on 3 November 2026. The Electoral Commission reports a preliminary count of 1,425,942 voters over 2–3 November, ahead of the main vote on 4 November.
Photograph published by SAnews with its 3 November 2026 special-voting report. Credit: SAnews / GCIS; reuse permitted with credit. — SAnews / GCIS — reproduction autorisée avec crédit : https://www.sanews.gov.za/node/85408 ; aucune modification.
SAnews reports the figure announced by Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepya. It counts people who voted, distinct from the roughly 2.6 million approved special-vote applications.
Voting took place at stations and through home visits. Channel Africa also describes the completion of this advance phase.
Ballots are stored for counting with those from the main election after stations close. This participation count is therefore no election result or indication of a party’s victory.
South Africa: special voting begins ahead of 4 November local elections
Special voting in South Africa’s municipal elections began on 2 November 2026 and continues on 3 November. SABC and Eyewitness News report voting-station operations and home visits ahead of the general poll on 4 November.
South African flag, October 2008. Archive image; not the 2026 vote. Chris Eason, CC BY 2.0. — Chris Eason / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ — 31 octobre 2008 ; sans modification.
The IEC approved more than 2.6 million applications. This is the number authorised to vote early, rather than a count of ballots already cast.
In Durban, EWN describes more than fifty older people voting at a TAFTA centre. Special ballots are to be stored and counted with other votes after general polling closes, under arrangements reported by Scrolla.
South African local elections: over 2.6 million approved for special voting
South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) said on 1 November 2026 that over 2.6 million voters were approved for special voting on 2 and 3 November. The main local election is scheduled for 4 November.
South African local election ballots from May 2011; archive illustration, not 2026 ballots. Discott, CC BY-SA 3.0; colour adjusted by JMK in 2021. — Discott / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ — 18 mai 2011 ; couleurs ajustées par JMK en 2021.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo spoke at the national results centre in Midrand, SABC reports. He urged people approved for home visits to remain at the address supplied in their application.
The total refers to approved special-voting applications, not turnout already recorded. Voting and its results were still ahead when the announcement was made.
