South Africans vote in local government elections

South Africans went to the polls on November 4 in local government elections shaped by concerns over municipal services, political fragmentation and declining participation. The vote will determine who serves on councils responsible for services including water, electricity, roads and refuse collection, while final results are expected on Sunday, November 8. The elections are the first local vote since the African National Congress lost its national parliamentary majority in 2024 and entered a government of national unity with nine other parties. The election-day account described the ANC as projected to remain the largest party nationally, though polls pointed to further erosion of its support. No final results were available in the reports published on election day. More than 29 million voters were registered, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa. The commission said 1.4 million of 2.6 million people approved for special voting cast ballots over two days. In the 2021 municipal elections, turnout was 46 percent of registered voters. Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said voters in local municipalities receive three ballots: one for a...