Minister dismisses claims of foreign nationals voting

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has dismissed claims that foreign nationals are allowed to vote in South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.

Speaking at a voting station in Faerie Glen, east of Pretoria, before casting her ballot, Ntshavheni said only South African citizens with valid identification documents are eligible to vote.

She has also urged those who have lost their IDs to apply for temporary identification documents. “Only South Africans with South African IDS can vote. Foreign nationals will be here on permits and visas. They are not eligible to vote. Illegal foreign nationals cannot be documented in South Africa, so they cannot vote, it is only South Africans who are voting, who have their green barcoded IDs or smart cards. We are calling upon those who have lost their IDs to go directly to Home Affairs offices to get temporary IDs.”