Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Wednesday, 4 November 2026, will be observed as a public holiday in South Africa to facilitate the Local Government Elections (LGE). This decision was made under Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act of 1994, as communicated by the Presidency.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of this public holiday, urging all registered voters to take advantage of the day to fulfill their democratic right and civic duty. This opportunity allows citizens to participate in shaping local governance by electing public representatives, which in turn influences service delivery in their respective communities.
The Presidency further highlighted the need for voters to cast their ballots at polling stations within their registered wards. It clarified that votes cannot be transferred to different voting stations outside of these designated areas, even if voters are considering travel on election day.
Additionally, President Ramaphosa called upon employers to support employees in exercising their Constitutional right to vote on 4 November, ensuring that all eligible individuals have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.