YNews Elections Build-up | Tshwane voters weigh loyalty against calls for political change

While some voters are ready to give new political players a chance, others remain firmly behind the parties they have supported for years, insisting that their loyalty will not be shaken by criticism or unfulfilled promises.

As South Africa entered the two-day special voting period ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, some Tshwane voters say they remain confident in their political choices, despite acknowledging that their preferred parties have not always delivered on their promises.

Special voting officially got underway on Monday and continues on Tuesday, giving eligible voters who will be unavailable on the main voting day, as well as those living with disabilities or illnesses that restrict their mobility, an opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of the elections.

Approximately 29 million registered voters are expected to participate in the elections, with more than 2.6 million special voters approved to cast their ballots.

This represents a increase of around 131% from the 1 147 759 special votes approved during the 2021 Municipal Elections.

Gauteng leads the country in approved special votes, with 480 721 voters registered to participate in the process. The province also recorded the highest number of voting station-based applications, at 391 589.

The Eastern Cape follows with 401 971 approved special voters, while KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 348 971.

In Pretoria’s Central Business District, Bosman Fire Station was among the voting stations welcoming eligible voters today.

While the ballot paper offers voters an opportunity to embrace political change, not everyone is prepared to take a chance on unfamiliar political parties.

Some Tshwane residents say they are wary of handing over the reins to new political formations, arguing that certain organisations appear more concerned with advancing their own interests than serving ordinary citizens.

Others, however, remain unapologetic about their political allegiance, saying they have stayed loyal through successive elections and see no reason to change course now.

One voter acknowledged that his preferred party often finds itself on the receiving end of public criticism, but insists that other people’s opinions will not dictate his political choices.

He has, however, called on incoming political leaders to extend their focus beyond major cities, urging them to improve conditions in disadvantaged rural communities while ensuring that urban public infrastructure is properly maintained.

“There are a lot of changes which still need to happen like in rural areas where tar-roads are needed to ensure smooth movement within those areas. In cities, things like potholes, streetlights, and electricity in general need to be well maintained. There are also a lot of hijacked buildings in our cities which the government need to intervene in so that they can be fixed,” the voter said.

Other voters who cast their ballots today have chosen to support different political parties, hoping their choices will bring the changes they want to see in South Africa.

In Tshwane, some say the country needs significant changes in the way it is governed if it is to get back on track.

They have raised concerns about what they describe as the deterioration of public infrastructure, saying Pretoria, once regarded as a well-maintained capital city, now appears to be struggling under the weight of municipal neglect.

One female voter, who will be travelling on the main voting day, says she has broken away from a political party she supported for years and has decided to give a new organisation an opportunity.

She is optimistic that changing her political allegiance will bring the improvements she has been hoping for.

The voter has also raised concerns about South Africa’s unemployment crisis, urging the incoming administration to make job creation an urgent priority.

For some special voters, this election is about more than choosing political representatives. It is also about reclaiming cities they believe have lost their former glory.

Among those who cast their ballots at Bosman Fire Station was Home Affairs employee, Tandisizwe Songqwiti, who described the process as swift and convenient.

Songqwiti says he was relieved to have cast his ballot today, knowing that his work commitments on Wednesday would otherwise have prevented him from joining the millions of South Africans expected to vote.

He says he hopes the incoming local government leadership will prioritise the rehabilitation of vandalised public infrastructure, among other pressing service delivery concerns.

Songqwiti has also encouraged South Africans not to lose faith in the country’s political processes, emphasising that meaningful change requires citizens to actively participate in choosing those who govern them.

He says every eligible South African has a role to play in shaping the country’s future, and that casting a ballot remains an important part of that responsibility.

🗳️ MEDIA STATEMENT|DAY ONE OF SPECIAL VOTING CONCLUDED

The statement highlights the CEO’s briefing on nationwide operational progress, resolutions to voting station delays, guidelines for voters receiving home visits tomorrow, key voting station rules, and weather updates.

#IEC https://t.co/yElZH3DT7G

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 2, 2026