Observer mission declares LGE 2026 free and fair

A joint observer mission comprising the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI) and the Women’s Election Mechanism for Peace (WEMP) has declared the Local Government Elections free and fair, describing the outcome as a credible expression of the will of participating voters.

During last Wednesday’s polls, the organisations deployed 619 trained and accredited observers across all nine provinces.

Using security reporting and historical analysis, the mission targeted high-priority voting districts flagged prior to election day to ensure observers were positioned where they were needed most.

In a statement by the SACC, the mission says it detected no major issues of concern and commended the Electoral Commission (IEC) for the consistency and transparency with which it administered the elections.

However, they noted that improvements are still needed in managing voter queues, Voter Management Devices (VMDs), and voter processing times.

The bodies also raised concern over the 54.5% voter turnout among registered voters, warning that high levels of non-participation compromise the extent to which electoral outcomes can fully reflect the will of the people.

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