{
  "id": 17909642,
  "title": "Special voting off to mixed start amid transport delays",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/special-voting-off-to-mixed-start-amid-transport-delays",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T04:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/elections/special-voting-off-to-mixed-start-amid-transport-delays/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Special voting kicked off yesterday in South Africa's Ekurhuleni region, but transport delays and observed violations of electoral rules marred the start. United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa criticized party agents in the video for wearing political regalia during the voting process. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) code strictly prohibits party agents and candidates from wearing party-branded clothing or regalia inside a voting station. Special voting in Ekurhuleni commenced with mixed outcomes, as some voting stations faced transportation challenges while others operated smoothly. Despite the logistical issues, party candidates reported varying experiences at their designated polling stations. In Benoni, Democratic Alliance candidate Mary Goby accused the IEC of being unprepared for home visits, while fellow DA candidate Simon Lapping had a trouble-free experience. EFF candidate Neliswa Mgagi expressed nervousness as it was her first election as a candidate in Kempton Park. Despite the logistical hurdles, the special voting window saw a high turnout, with 2,655,067 special vote applications approved by the IEC for the 2026 local polls. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo assured the public of the commission's operational readiness, stating that about 127,000 electoral staff members have been deployed nationwide.",
  "summary": "Special voting got underway yesterday with a mixed start as transport problems delayed home visits in Ekurhuleni.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}