In brief
South Africa’s local government elections began amid special voting approvals for 2.65 million voters. Security officials report 20 election‑related killings and marked increases in political violence, linked to the lucrative nature of local office. Auditor‑General findings reveal only 39 of 257 municipalities received clean audits for the 2024‑25 year.
South Africa's local government elections opened with special voting on Monday, approving 2.65 million applications and seeing 94 % of polling stations open on time. The Electoral Commission of South Africa said the vote has been largely smooth nationwide, though delays plagued 10 of 116 wards in Cape Town due to a court‑ordered ballot reprint.
Two IEC officials were involved in separate incidents on the day: one had a road accident in KwaZulu‑Natal, and another collapsed and later died in the North West Province.
Security chief Tebello Mosikili warned that 20 people had been killed in election‑related incidents up to Sunday, with seven arrests so far. "We remain particularly concerned about incidents involving the loss of life during the election period," Mosikili said, urging a peaceful and secure process.
Independent monitors have recorded escalating violence. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime documented 43 deaths in 45 political attacks from January to September, up from 23 in the same period last year.
Analysts argue the clashes stem not only from political rivalry but also from the sizable economic perks of municipal roles. A ward councillor earns over 25,000 rand (about US$1,500) per month before allowances, a significant income in a country where unemployment hovers at 33 % and the minimum wage is about 6,000 rand.
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the killings, calling for justice for those who carried them out and stressing that such violence had no place in a democratic society.
Against this backdrop, auditor‑general Tsakani Maluleke reported that only 39 of South Africa's 257 municipalities achieved clean audits for the 2024‑25 financial year, and none of the eight metropolitan municipalities did so.
The stakes, therefore, are high: the violence threatens voter safety, local governance relies on competent, well‑managed councils, and the economic benefits driving competition risk further instability. South Africans watch closely as the campaign continues and the general local election day approaches on Wednesday.