In brief
South African voters began a special voting phase on Monday, with 2.65 million applications approved and 94% of stations opening on time, but delays in Cape Town and recent killings of 20 candidates heightened security concerns. The Electoral Commission also reported incidents involving officials, while independent monitors documented rising political violence linked to the lucrative nature of municipal positions.
South African voters began a special voting phase ahead of the local government election on Monday, with 2.65 million applications approved and 94% of polling stations opening on time, Xinhua reported.
Sheburi, IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, said:
We got off to a slow start in some parts of Cape Town. By 10:30 a.m., we were yet to open voting stations in 10 of the 116 wards.
Sheburi also reported two incidents involving election officials: a road accident in KwaZulu‑Natal Province and the collapse and death of an official in the North West Province earlier that day.
Security officials and independent monitors have documented rising political violence, with 20 people killed in election‑related incidents involving representatives, party members and supporters and seven arrests in connection with the killings, according to Tebello Mosikili, chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.
Mosikili said:
We remain particularly concerned about incidents involving the loss of life during the election period.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime recorded at least 43 people killed in 45 political attacks between January and September, compared with 23 killings over the same period last year.
Analysts linked the violence to the considerable economic benefits of municipal office; a ward councillor earns more than 25,000 rand a month before allowances, a substantial income in a country with a 33% unemployment rate and a minimum wage of about 6,000 rand.
Julian Rademeyer, author of GI‑TOC's October report, said political competition at the local level had become increasingly intertwined with economic and other interests.
Municipal audit scrutiny continues; Auditor‑General Tsakani Maluleke reported that 39 of 257 municipalities obtained clean audits for the 2024‑25 financial year, while none of the eight metropolitan municipalities had achieved this status.