IEC urges patience as election results continue to trickle in

November 5, 2026 64

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has appealed to political parties, independent candidates and their supporters to remain patient as counting and results-capturing processes continue.

About 15.9 million people took to the polls in Wednesday’s 2026 Local Government Elections, despite more than 29 million people being registered to vote.

The commission’s CEO, Masego Sheburi, says local municipality, metropolitan and district council ballots are expected to produce 66,073 result slips across 23,696 voting stations countrywide.

Sheburi also revealed that the commission has received more than 800 complaints, relating to issues ranging from voting station staff and the voting process to the counting of ballots.

Political parties have until 17h00 on Friday, 06 November, to lodge objections with the IEC, as vote counting counting and results capturing continue across the country.

The IEC says the final results will be announced on Sunday.

Meanwhile, several incidents, including deadly attacks, were reported during and after Wednesday’s elections.

The IEC has confirmed the death of an elderly voter in Ward 72 in eThekwini, who collapsed while waiting in the voting queue.

It is reported that the senior citizen was rushed to hospital, but later died.

In Mpumalanga, police are investigating a murder after a 57-year-old man was shot and killed outside a voting station in Bushbuckridge.

The man was reportedly among a group of people who were celebrating outside the station while awaiting the conclusion of the counting process and the announcement of results.

It is alleged that two men approached the group and opened fire.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, has appealed to members of the public to come forward with information that could assist the investigation.

In Polokwane, an EFF member was reportedly stabbed to death outside a voting station this morning.

It is alleged that the victim was involved in an altercation with another person outside Flora Park Comprehensive School, where voting was taking place.

National Director of Public Prosecutions, Andy Mothibi, says the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is prioritising election-related cases to ensure speedy prosecution and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

More than 25 election-related cases have been enrolled in court, with almost 14 others remain under investigation.

Most election-related cases involve taking a photo of a marked ballot and intimidation or fighting, where there is intolerance among party political members.

Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, says the elections proceeded peacefully overall, with police responding to incidents where necessary.