Voting ends in South Africa's hotly contested local elections

Voting concluded late Wednesday in South Africa’s local government elections, which will gauge support for the African National Congress (ANC), the party that led the struggle against apartheid but has suffered significant electoral setbacks in recent years.

Polling stations across the country opened at 7 am local time (0500GMT) and closed at 9 pm (1900GMT).

Counting is expected to start, and early partial results will be announced throughout the night, with official completed results expected Thursday or Friday.

More than 29 million people registered to vote at some 23,700 polling stations nationwide, according to the country's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Around 12 million people were reported to have cast their ballots by 5 pm local time (1500GMT), according to preliminary figures released by the IEC.

The elections body said it is encouraged by the voter turnout, regardless of some operational challenges they faced during the day.

Most voters told Anadolu they were dissatisfied by declining basic services in their municipalities and voted to ensure change.

"I am voting for change. I want to see adequate service delivery in my community," said Chris Mazibuko, 38, a resident of Soweto.

"We have been suffering with no clean drinking water and leaking sewage pipes in our streets. I hope my vote will bring change," he added.

Aisha Mohamed, a resident of Mayfair West, said public safety was her main concern.

"We want safety for our families and communities. There is too much crime and drug dealing on our streets. I hope my vote counts," she told Anadolu.

Dozens of political parties are contesting the elections, including the ANC, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Former President Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is competing in local elections for the first time.

The ANC, which Nelson Mandela led to victory in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, governed the country for nearly three decades without sharing power before losing its parliamentary majority.

In the 2021 municipal elections, the party's nationwide vote share fell below 50%.

It suffered another setback in the 2024 general elections, losing its national parliamentary majority for the first time and subsequently forming a government of national unity with the DA and other parties.