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South Africa counts votes in municipal elections
Counting began after Wednesday’s local elections, with 12 million ballots recorded by late afternoon, Africanews, DW and IOL reported, in a test of ANC support over services.
- Africanews and IOL are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “South Africans vote in local elections that test the ANC”
- Our desk updated its story
- Local 10 and DW are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “ANC under pressure to reverse South Africa decline”
4 earlier updates
- Our desk filed its story
- Still developing
- New headline Was: “South Africans vote in local elections that could continue decline of ANC”
- Al Jazeera is now reporting this
South Africans voted Wednesday in municipal elections, and counting began after polls closed, Africanews, DW and IOL reported1,2,3.
The contest covers 257 councils and is treated as a gauge of support before national elections in 20291,2.
The Independent Electoral Commission said 12 million of 29.2 million registered voters had cast ballots by 5 p.m., Africanews and IOL reported; anyone still in line after 9 p.m. could vote1,3,4.
Voters interviewed by Africanews cited water and power failures and unemployment above 30 percent1.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC leader, said after voting that democracy is alive and that the government intends to rebuild local structures1,2.
The ANC fell below 50 percent in 2021 local elections and won just over 40 percent in the 2024 national vote, entering a national coalition, the reports said1,2.
The Democratic Alliance is expected to keep Cape Town and is targeting Johannesburg; former president Jacob Zuma’s MK party is challenging in Durban1,2.
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis told AFP, via Africanews, that his party would talk to everyone but would not start coalition talks before votes were counted1.
IOL said police were investigating theft of unused ballot papers and a voting stamp at a station in eThekwini3.
Final results are due by Sunday, the election authority said1.
Sources
- AfricanewsVote counting gets underway in critical South Africa local elections
- DWSouth Africans vote in local elections in test for ANC
- IOLSouth Africa heads into vote counting after millions cast their ballot in local government elections
- Al JazeeraVote counting underway in critical South Africa elections
How it’s being reported
5 sourcesFirst reported by 
DW
BBCShow all
Vote counting gets underway in critical South Africa local elections
Turnout and voter quotes
Counting starts after South Africa’s local elections, with ANC under pressure over services.
Leaves out IEC stolen-ballots incident
DWFirstSouth Africans vote in local elections in test for ANC
Johannesburg and DA
DW says municipal elections are a test for the ANC amid service failures.
Leaves out Exact turnout
South Africa heads into vote counting after millions cast their ballot in local government elections
Local incidents
IOL says millions voted and counting is underway; police probed stolen materials in eThekwini.
Leaves out National poll numbers
Vote counting underway in critical South Africa elections
Registration figure
Al Jazeera video: counting underway after a record 29.2 million registered.
Leaves out Detailed party tactics
ANC under pressure to reverse South Africa decline
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
As South Africans vote in local elections, residents tell the BBC they are tired of the poor quality of services they get. BBC News
Where they agree
- Municipal elections were held Wednesday and counting started.
- IEC reported 12 million votes by 5 p.m.
- ANC faces pressure over local services.