Observer mission declares LGE 2026 free and fair
Ninety-eight percent of the votes been counted in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
A joint observer mission, consisting of the South African Council of Churches, the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative, and the Women’s Election Mechanism for Peace, has declared the Local Government Elections 2026 to be free and fair. The mission, which comprised 619 trained and accredited observers across all nine provinces, described the results as a credible manifestation of the voters' will.
During the elections, the organizations strategically positioned their observers in high-priority voting districts identified prior to Election Day to ensure optimal coverage. In a statement, the South African Council of Churches commended the Electoral Commission for the consistent and transparent administration of the elections, noting that no major issues were detected.
However, the mission highlighted areas for improvement, including managing voter queues, Voter Management Devices, and voter processing times. The organizations also expressed concern over the voter turnout, which stood at 54.5% among registered voters, warning that low participation could limit the extent to which electoral outcomes accurately reflect the people's will.
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