Midrand:Defend Our Democracy (DOD) election observer Thandeka Sithole has expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), describing the voting process as professional despite some challenges.
According to South African Government News Agency, Sithole noted her encouragement with the voter turnout announced by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), particularly given concerns that participation could fall below the 2021 LGE levels.
Sithole highlighted the importance of the election outcomes as South Africa navigates coalition politics, emphasizing the need for broad representation and transparency in coalition government formations. She insisted on the publication of all coalition agreements to ensure public access and transparency.
Sithole also observed an encouraging number of young voters at various stations in the Midrand, Gauteng area, although she awaits official statistics from the IEC on youth participation.
Regarding election administration, Sithole expressed general satisfaction but pointed out challenges related to the Commission’s capacity and resources, noting difficulties faced by IEC officials in managing queues during peak hours. She advocated for increased funding to improve the training of electoral officials and management of voting stations.