South Africa

Political leaders vote as local government elections get underway

By Mashudu Sadike, Zama Nteyi, Nakampe Lekwadu and Justine Dumont

4 November 2026, 15:45 SAST2 min read

Phophi Ramathuba in a green dress places her ballot in a ballot box.

Political leaders across South Africa have cast their votes in the 2026 Local Government Elections, calling on eligible voters to participate in the electoral process and help shape the future of their municipalities.

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba voted at Mokopane Primary School in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, where she urged residents to turn out in numbers and exercise their democratic right.

Ramathuba emphasised that public participation was important in strengthening democracy and ensuring communities played an active role in choosing leaders responsible for service delivery.

Rise Mzansi national leader Songezo Zibi cast his vote at Kosmosdal Business Park in Centurion, Tshwane.

Songezo Zibi in a white Rise Mzansi shirt and glasses outside a voting station.

Zibi described the voting process as simple and efficient but expressed concern about voters who could face long queues, particularly in hot weather.

He urged voters to check their registration details and confirm their voting stations before leaving home to avoid standing in the wrong queue.

Zibi also encouraged undecided voters to participate, warning that decisions about their communities would be made regardless of whether they voted.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa voted in Mthatha, where he said coalition governments were the future of South African politics.

Bantu Holomisa in a blue patterned shirt stands among voters outside a white tent.

He pointed to the outcome of the 2024 national elections, saying voters had demonstrated that they no longer wanted one political party to hold all the power.

Holomisa also said single-party dominance created room for corruption and expressed satisfaction with his party's election campaign, particularly its inclusion of young people as mayoral, proportional representation and ward candidates.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane cast his vote in Dobsonville, Soweto.

In a social media post, Maimane said he had voted for BOSA's Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, and the party on his other ballot paper.

Mmusi Maimane in a dark suit places his ballot in a ballot box at a voting station

Mmusi Maimane in a dark suit smiles beside the ballot box after voting

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli voted at Vumanhlavu Primary School in Nkandla.

Thamsanqa Ntuli in a blue patterned shirt places his ballot in a ballot box.

Ntuli welcomed what he described as a peaceful and orderly start to voting across the province, with reports indicating that voting stations had opened without major disruptions.

He credited the Independent Electoral Commission, the South African Police Service, electoral officials and security personnel for helping ensure that voting stations were operational.

Ntuli called on political parties and their supporters to respect opposing political views and warned against intimidation, threats and violence.

In eThekwini, Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba cast his ballot at Cowies Hill Community Hall.

Cyril Xaba drops his ballot into a ballot box

Cyril Xaba hands over his ID at the IEC table

Cyril Xaba with IEC officials at the voters' roll table

Cyril Xaba marks his ballot in a voting booth

Cyril Xaba holds his ballot beside the voting booths

Cyril Xaba greets a woman in a blue jacket

Cyril Xaba greets residents at the voting station

Cyril Xaba shakes hands with an elderly man

Cyril Xaba talks to residents outside the hall

Xaba encouraged citizens to vote, saying their participation would ensure their voices were heard. Reflecting on his tenure, he said he was proud of the political and administrative stability established during his time in office, which he said had helped attract investment, grow tourism and create employment opportunities.

The leaders called on voters to make use of their democratic right and participate in choosing the people who will govern their communities. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba also cast his vote in Joburg.