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DA Eastern Cape leader Andrew Whitfield.

DA blasts Eastern Cape government over state of roads affecting voting access

Brad Pitts' long journey to vote hit some snags before he eventually made his mark
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A 7,000km trip, a missing ID and a vote

After flying 7,000km from Saudi Arabia to vote in South Africa's local elections, Gqeberha resident Brad Pitts overcame a lost identity card just in…

First-time voter Avuziwe Vono.
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First-time voters make their mark for a better future

Thousands of first-time voters across the Eastern Cape turned out to cast their ballots in the local government elections, voicing hopes for…

Ncedephi Tinana, 52, was among those who were moved from Tiphini sqauter camp near Waterfall Park to Soweto temporary dwellings near Mall of Mthatha.
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Residents living in appalling conditions hope vote will make a difference

Voters across Mthatha's King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality have approached the local government elections with sharply contrasting attitudes,…

NOVEMBER 04, 2026 Linda Bonza (66) whocannot read or write and struggles to see, casts her vote in eBhongweni Picture: MARK ANDREWS © DAILY DISPATCH
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Eastern Cape elderly cast ballots in persistent hope for basic services and youth jobs

Despite calls to encourage the youth to vote, at least two Eastern Cape schools reportedly refused to allow eligible pupils to cast their ballots on Wednesday. Grade 12 pupils at Nomaka Mbeki Technical High School in Ngcengcwane in Dutywa, is seen doing laundry at school.
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Dutywa school pupils 'denied right to vote'

Grade 12 pupils at two Eastern Cape schools were allegedly blocked from leaving exam camps to cast their ballots on election day, sparking outrage…

Moments after casting their votes, Nqadu villagers Nofundile Notshizela, 60, and Nokhwezi Nqwiliso, 56, collect water from a stream. With taps across the area running dry, villagers have been forced to rely on unsafe water. Both women have been voting since 1994. Although they wish for change, they said they've lost hope.
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After voting, it's back to collecting water in Nqadu area

Shortly after casting their ballots at dawn in the Eastern Cape, elderly Nqadu villagers returned to collecting drinking water from a stream shared…

Gaxa Lolo, 91, of Gwatyu village in Mthatha has voted in each election since 1994, hoping for clean running water and youth employment.
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Hope, frustration and a demand for change at the polls

More than 1.4 million Eastern Cape voters turned out for the local government elections despite severe infrastructure challenges, disrupted voting…

Officials tally votes at a rural Eastern Cape voting station.

DA takes first declared result in local government elections

The DA has won the first declared result of the 2026 local government elections, securing an early lead at a small voting station in the Eastern…

Nelson Mandela’s former home in Qunu, near Mthatha.

Calls for tolerance in highly-contested polls in Mandela's home villages

Residents across Nelson Mandela’s ancestral home villages of Mvezo, Mqhekezweni, and Qunu are preparing to vote in what they describe as the most…

Women show their voting marks outside Greenpoint school in Buffalo Flats.
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VOTES SO FAR: More than 431,000 turn out in Eastern Cape

Over 431,000 citizens in the Eastern Cape cast their votes by mid-morning on Wednesday. Despite minor weather and protest disruptions, the IEC…

Deputy manager of the IEC in Eastern Cape Masindi Mosehana speaks at the election results centre at the ICC in KuGompo City.

Bad weather and protests delay opening of Eastern Cape voting stations

A community member casts her vote at the Centre of Excellence school voting station in Belgravia on Monday.

Eastern Cape councillor candidate arrested over alleged ballot paper theft

An Eastern Cape councillor candidate has been disqualified and arrested for allegedly attempting to steal ballot papers, while an IEC official in…

A member of the public casts their special vote at the Jabavu Clinic Voting district in Duncan Village.
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Woman disqualified from IEC work after listed as EFF candidate without her knowledge

An unemployed Eastern Cape mother lost out on crucial temporary work with the Electoral Commission of South Africa after discovering the EFF had…

IEC probes Mdantsane presiding officer's lift to ANC party agent

Political parties have lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) after a presiding officer in Mdantsane allegedly drove…

Special voting gets off to rocky start in parts of Eastern Cape

Special voting got off to a rocky start at some polling stations in the Eastern Cape on Monday due to logistical challenges and a community protest.…

Woman found murdered in Qonce

Eastern Cape police are investigating a murder after the body of a woman believed to be in her 20s was found with injuries to her throat and leg in…

AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.

King's election boycott call sparks backlash from traditional leaders

AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has urged voters to boycott Wednesday’s local government elections, declaring that no political party deserves…

ATM president Ceasar Nongqunga was the first voter to cast his vote at his home village at Luxolweni in the Nonzwakazi administrative area in   Ngqeleni on Monday during the social votes. He called for voters to come in numbers to cast their votes on Wednesday and make their Voices to be heard. Picture: Lulamile Feni

ATM leader opens special voting at home village

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Whistleblower alleges irregularities in Joe Gqabi municipal fuel procurement

A whistleblower has called for an independent investigation into Joe Gqabi District Municipality following allegations of irregular fuel procurement…