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Johannesburg residents divided over local government elections

An IEC official marks a voter’s finger with ink after casting a special vote on November 2, 2026.
Image: Electoral Commission of South Africa: Facebook
By: Wendy Mothata
05 Nov 202616:01 SAST

Johannesburg residents have expressed mixed emotions about the 6th Local Government Elections that were held on Wednesday.

In the City of Johannesburg metro, which hosts the country’s largest voter base at over 2.4 million registered voters.

Residents are demanding change.

SABC News took to the streets of Johannesburg to gauge the mood on the ground.

Anxious anticipation hung over the National Results Operations Centre as early figures trickled in on Thursday. Gauteng recorded the highest voter turnout in the country this week.

Johannesburg residents turned out in large numbers to determine who governs the economic hub for the next five years.

But beyond the party politics, ordinary citizens say their cross on the ballot is a strict contract for better services.

In Orange Farm, residents say they are faced with a water crisis, high unemployment and a high crime rate. They are calling for help from authorities to address these challenges.

Residents say the councillors who will represent their wards and make decisions about service delivery in their communities must hit the ground running, as their issues need immediate interventions.

LGE 2026 | Day one of vote counting under way – Terry Tselane weighs in:

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