Special voting for the 2026 Local Government Elections began in Mpumalanga on Monday, according to SAnews. A total of 292 775 eligible voters in the province are expected to vote on Monday and Tuesday.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu called on all eligible voters to use their right to vote. He made the call in a statement on Monday.
“Voting is a right enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. It gives you, as a citizen, the power to make a choice of your preferred party, and individuals to represent you in your Municipality. So use this opportunity to decide,” Ndlovu said.
According to the Electoral Commission (IEC), Mpumalanga has 2 170 139 registered voters. The IEC said 29.2 million people are registered across the country. That gives the province 7.42 percent of the national voters’ roll.
The IEC launched its Results Operations Centre in White River on Friday. SAnews reported that the commission used the launch to assure voters it was ready for the elections.
Ndlovu repeated that assurance in his statement. “The IEC has assured the nation that all systems, including the material required to deliver credible elections, are in place. So every voter is guaranteed to cast their ballots in a system that will produce free and fair results. So let us all use this opportunity to amplify our voices,” he said.
The province also said measures are in place to keep the elections safe. Police confirmed that law enforcement agencies will be deployed so that voting takes place peacefully, according to SAnews.
The South African Police Service launched its Provincial Safer Festive Season Operation in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. SAnews reported that the launch had raised confidence in safety measures during the election period. This applied especially to areas identified as crime hot spots.
The Premier also warned voters about the heat, as high temperatures are possible. He urged them to stay out of direct sunlight for long periods while they queue at voting stations.
Ndlovu also asked voters to drink water to prevent dehydration. He said this would reduce the risk of medical emergencies that could stop people from voting.
In these elections, people may vote only at the voting station where they are registered. The IEC urged voters to check their station details before Election Day.
Voters can send their ID number on WhatsApp to 0600 88 0000. They can also send it by SMS to 32810, at R1 per SMS.
The reply gives the name of the registered voting station and the voter’s sequence number on the voters’ roll. Giving this number to election officials helps them find a voter’s name more quickly.
All voting stations will be open from 7 am to 9 pm on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The day has been declared a public holiday to give voters time to cast their ballots.
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.