Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has called on South Africans to come out in large numbers and vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
She made the call on Wednesday after casting her own ballot. She voted at the Nederduitsch Gereformeerde Kerk voting station in Faerie Glen, Pretoria East, according to SAnews.
“I’ve just cast my vote. The queues are moving quite fast. When it started, it was a long queue, and yes, I didn’t jump the queue; I queued, and it is moving very fast,” Ntshavheni told SAnews.gov.za.
She said officials at the station were efficient. She said there were no glitches, at least in the ward where she voted.
According to SAnews, a long queue stretched towards the entrance gate when the station opened. Residents arrived early to make their mark.
SAnews reported that voting officials and presiding officers helped voters inside the centre, especially elderly people. They showed voters how to fold their ballot papers, and some elderly voters were walked through the centre.
Ntshavheni asked voters to go to the polls early to avoid a rush later in the day.
“I’m urging all South Africans to come and vote now when it’s still early, and there is still light so that there’s no evening rush. It would be preferable to have everybody having cast their vote by 9pm without extending the time,” she said.
The Minister said voting helps citizens choose a government that will keep bringing development to communities. She said the country’s problems need everyone to work together.
Ntshavheni also spoke about access to basic services since the start of democracy. She said most people did not have electricity and water in their homes before.
“We’ve got this access because of this democracy,” she said. She added that many people received housing they could not have afforded on their own.
Looking ahead, the Minister said the focus should now be on building the economy. She said municipalities must be strong enough to support economic growth amid global challenges.
She also said the vote was a chance for South Africans to defend the country’s sovereignty and democracy.
“This local government election is important for the country because local municipalities, that’s where the government is closest to the people and the ward councillor is your government,” Ntshavheni said.
She said this was why voters should choose a representative who will look after their needs.
On safety, Ntshavheni called on political parties and their supporters to show tolerance. She asked them to respect electoral laws so that voting stays peaceful.
Special votes were cast on Monday and Tuesday. The Minister said those days went well, although there were a few incidents.
“There were a few incidents, but it was nothing that Natjoints could not manage to deal with,” she said.
Ntshavheni said the security cluster has supported the IEC in keeping voting stations calm and free from intimidation.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SAnews.gov.za. Image: GCIS via SAnews.gov.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.