Municipal Elections 2016

President Jacob Zuma was full of praise for the manner in which the elections were conducted. In reference to the protests that preceded the elections. The president expressed a wish that the concerns of the electorate will be addressed by the new incumbents...

Latest news, interviews and analysis on the 2016 municipal elections.

The ANC in the Western Cape says the local government election results are a wake up call for the party. Not only was the Democratic Alliance victorious in the City of Cape Town but the party managed to penetrate traditional ANC strongholds such as Khayelitsha. The DA managed to increase its votes by more than six percent in the Cape Metro.

IFP leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, says that the youth have played a significant role in the election period. The IFP is currently trailing in second place with 22-percent in KZN, while the ANC is leading with 54 percent. According to the IEC results system, the IFP won fifty-four percent of Nkandla, the area in which the private home of President Jacob Zuma is situated. Buthelezi was speaking at the IEC results centre in Durban...

ANC Gauteng chairperson, Paul Mashatile says they are counting on the township voteS to help them retain City of Johannesburg and Tshwane.

There have been scenes of jubilation at the DA's table at the IEC Results centre in Pretoria with the announcement that the party has the majority in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality - with 90 percent of votes declared. However the DA has just fallen short of outright control of the Metro - garnering 49-point five percent of the vote. The ANC trails with 39 percent and the EFF finished with just under five percent. The DA may now form a coalition with another party to run the metro. DA leader Musi Maimane ...

With 80 percent of the national votes counted, the ANC leads with 53.6 percent - a decline of almost 8 percent compared to the 2011 local poll. The DA showed a improvement of almost 4 percent to 27.4 percent. But it is still a fight for control of the big metro's. The DA is leading in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro with 49.5 percent, followed by the ANC with 39,3 percent. It is also a tight race in Tshwane and Johannesburg where the ANC and DA are neck and neck.

The Economic Freedom Fighters are tipped to be king makers in Tshwane and City of Johannesburg. But EFF acting chairperson in Gauteng, Mandisa Mashego says the EFF is not opposed to coalition governance but it will not go into partnership with the ruling party.

DA Johannesburg regional chair, Khume Ramulifho says their efforts are reflective of the results.

Latest news, interviews and analysis on the 2016 municipal elections.

The ANC's Gwede Mantashe reflects on LGE 2016.

The results for the first voting district in the 2016 local government elections have been released. Results have been declared for the voting district Mistly Farm at Komga in the Great Kei municipality.Three candidates are contesting the ward and they belong to the following parties.

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe says there is no excuse for registered South Africans not to vote. Motlanthe was speaking as he was preparing to cast his vote at the Killarney Country Club north of Johannesburg.

IEC Gauteng Provincial Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi says voting went well in Gauteng, with no major incidents reported.Sheburi says they are expecting the initial results to trickle in around 10pm on Wednesday evening.

The leaders of most of the main political parties have already made their crosses next to their parties. President Jacob Zuma went to his home town, Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

So today it's all about the hashtags - #LGE2016 has been trending this week and clearly online platforms are the preferred way of expressing emotions on this Election Day. Online is also where South Africans choose to access latest news and results. And so this year, the SABC Digital News team, has for the first time, made public their up-to-the-second results system which is availabe on www.sabc.co.za. Executive Producer for SABC Digital News, Aasra Bramdeo explains the high tech features on the website.

President Jacob Zuma says the peaceful nature of the country's fifth local government elections is a sign that South Africa's democracy is coming of age. He was speaking after casting his vote at his home village of Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The President was accompanied by his wives Ma-Khumalo, Thobeka Madiba-Zuma and Bongi Ngema-Zuma.

Political Analyst, Dumisani Hlophe, says the DA, by using the Nelson Mandela in their elections campaign, has disowned its white heritage.

Mcebisi Ndletyana says the upcoming elections will give everyone an opportunity to judge the Economic Freedom Fighters among many other issues that have characterised the 2016 local government elections.

Political Analyst, Zamikhaya Maseti, has criticised what he terms the 'expropriation act' by opposition parties, mentioning as an example the DA's decision to use 'Madiba's dream' in their elections campaining.

A second voter has died after collapsing in the queue. This time at the Ingwe Local Municipality in southern KwaZulu-Natal.

SAFM- Party manifestos and campaigns have not focused on issues affecting the youth in South Africa. This is the view of a researcher in Political Science at Monash South Africa, Busisiwe Khaba.Speaking ahead of local government elections, Khaba says the focus on youth issues is somewhat distorted.

SAfm — The South African National Defence Force - SANDF - will provide logistical support to the police at 650 identified hot spots in the country during Wednesday's municipal elections. This emerged during a media briefing conducted by the security cluster in Vuwani. Vuwani has been identified as one of the hot spots. Residents embarked on a three months long boycott of services that has seen at least thirty schools and other property set alight by the protesters. Acting National Police Commissioner, Kgomotso Phahlane, says law enforcement agencies will make sure that citizens who want to go and cast their votes do so without fear.

SAfm — The major political parties have gone all out in campaigning for this year's municipal elections. Expenditure by parties on poll campaigns has come under the spotlight after ANC elections head of campaign Nomvula Mokonyane revealed that the ruling party spent R1-billion on its campaign. EFF leader Julius Malema also disclosed that his party spent less than R10-million on its election campaign. Over the weekend the Sunday Times reported that the DA forked out more than R350-million in their campaign.

SABC Digital News - The IEC says all preparations are in place for free and fair elections on Wednesday. Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. Speaking from the IEC Results Operations Centre in Pretoria, Chairperson Glen Mashinini has called on all IEC staff to uphold rules and regulations:

DA's Phumzile Van Damme has urged South Africans to go out in their numbers to vote.

SABC Digital News - As much as SABC Television News is out in full force, Radio News plays even more integral part in covering the Local Government Elections due to its strong and wide reach. Radio journalists have a great love for immediacy. They work tirelessly to ensure that news reaches their listeners with accuracy. We catch up with Angie Kapelianis (Editor: Radio News Current Affairs), Krivani Pillay (Executive Producer for SAfm Current Affairs), Dumisani Ndimande (Executive Producer for Ukhozi FM Current Affairs) and Hendrik Martin (Senior Producer for RSG) at the Results Operations Centre in Pretoria.

SABC Digital News- Gauteng Premier David Makhura says parties have done their part however Wednesday is all about the voter. Makhura was speaking to the SABC at the IEC Gauteng provincial centre in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

SABC Digital News - Acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane comments on Security presence in Vuwani and other hot spots.

SABC Digital News - As South Africa counts down to the local government elections, the IEC has received a record 719 222 applications for special votes‚ including 315 597 - or 44% - of home visits and 403 625 - or 56% - for those who can't get to the polls tomorrow. Former IEC Chairperson Pansy Tlakula.

SABC Digital News - President Jacob Zuma tours IEC Election Broadcast Centre in Pretoria.

SAfm — President Jacob Zuma has assured the nation that tight security measures have been put in place to ensure that no criminal or violent incidents will mar Wednesday's local government elections. There are about 26 million voters who have registered for what has been termed as the most competitive and closely contested municipal polls since the advent of democracy in 1994. Presidential Correspondent Tshepo Ikaneng filed this report.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi says the EFF is committed to provide sustainable jobs to South Africans.

SABC Digital News - It's not often that issues of freeness and fairness are raised in South Africa. But there have been some issues affecting trust in the Independent Electoral Commission. Dennis Kadima - Executive Director of the Electoral Institute of Sustainable Democracy in South Africa.

SABC Digital News - Dr Zwelinzima Ndevu from the University of Stellenbosch discusses some of the major issues that have come up in the smaller municipalities.

SABC Digital News - The province of KwaZulu-Natal has seen some political intolerance in the build-up to this year's municipal elections. For an update on the province's state of readiness. Ayanda Mhlongo has the latest from Durban.

SABC Digital News - A lot has been said about the major metropolitan municipalities during this election campaign. But there are also a huge number of rural municipalities. For a closer look at the prospects for different parties in some key municipal districts and metros, we are now joined by Independent analyst, Michael O' Donovan.

SABC DIGITAL NEWS - There are a few hours left of Day 1 of the 2016 Special Elections and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says that they got off to a smooth and steady start. The IEC has indicated that a record high of 719 22 applications were approved this year. The IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mosotho Moepya explained that 403 625 special votes (which translates to 56 %) would be cast at voting stations around the country.

SABC Digital News - This past weekend saw the last of the political rallies as parties took advantage of the weekend to draw thousands of supporters to rallies and major events across the countries. Independent Analyst, Michael O’Donovan, explains that campaigning itself will continue for the next two days however must stop on voting day itself.

SABC Head of News and Current Affairs Nothando Maseko says they are ready to cover the elections.

SAfm — ACDP leader, Kenneth Meshoe has asked voters to vote for a party that promotes respect. Meshoe took his campaign to an old age home in Kraaifontein (outside Cape Town) where he told the elderly that his party is based on Christian moral values. He responded to DA and ANC statements that a vote for smaller parties is a wasted vote. Thandiswa Mawu reports...

SAfm — The DA in the North West has successfully appealed the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to disqualify two of its ward candidates from contesting next week's local government elections. The IEC said the party submitted the candidates' names after the closing date of the 2nd June. However, the DA argued that they followed all the correct procedures. Sisi Segalo reports...

SAfm — Co-operative Governance Minister Des Van Rooyen and eight traditional leaders in the Vuwani area have signed an agreement under which government will start the process of re-determining the new municipality that will be established in Vhembe's boundaries two weeks after next week's election. The chiefs, for their part, have undertaken to restore normality in Vuwani. A three-month protest by residents opposed to their inclusion in the municipality has seen some violence and a service shutdown. One of the community leaders, Nsobo Sambo however says they are not part of the agreement. Pimani Baloyi reports...

SABC Digital News - The IEC is confident that elections will run smoothly across the country - even in volatile areas like Vuwani. Residents there have threatened to boycott next Wednesday's municipal polls, as they continue with their protest against a municipal demcarcation board decision to incorporate them into a new municipality. The IEC today launched its national results centre in Pretoria - saying it is ready to deliver the biggest local government election yet.

SABC Digital News - The Independent Electoral Commission says it's monitoring threats of violence in Marikana in the North West. The area remains a hotspot after violence flared up in the area following the 2012 Marikana killings. The Unemployed Youth Forum have threatened to destabilise the elections if their demands for job opportunities at Lonmin Platinum mine, are not addressed. Sello Tatai reports.

SABC Digital News - The Democratic Alliance has officially launched its new election campaign poster, in Pretoria. The poster urges people to honour former President Nelson Mandela's dream by voting for the DA. Party leader, Mmusi Maimane was accompanied by the DA Tshwane mayoral candidate - Solly Msimang.

Newsbreak — The Western Cape played host to Newsbreak's Election Debate Roadshow on the 16th of July from 1pm to 2pm. The pre-election debate was hosted by Newsbreak's Genevieve Lanka and produced by the team, Orrin Singh, Prabashini Moodley, Hoosen Ebrahim and Taresh Hareeparshad in our Durban Studios, led by Executive Producer, Salma Patel. This was the semi-final debate in Newsbreak's Election Debate Roadshow. Here is a podcast of that debate where it was evident that there is a huge divide between the rich and poor - is it just a case of a tale of two cities? Decide for yourself.

SABC Digital News -Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Des Van Rooyen says preparations for the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE 2016) are on track.

Struggle icon Winnie Mandela says the ANC will survive the current turmoil. The party has been facing a number of controversies including court judgements, and internal tensions.

Newsbreak — The Election Debate Roadshow travelled to LAUDIUM to allow the community an opportunity to engage with local politicians and candidates before deciding WHO deserves their vote. Here is a podcast of that debate hosted by Newsbreak's Genevieve Lanka and team - Maya Jagjivan, Hoosen Ebrahim, Prabashini Moodley and Orrin Singh.