About half of SA voted on 4 November. How your province turned out
Around 50% of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2026 local elections, up from 46% in 2021. Gauteng led with 3 million votes by 17:00, and KwaZulu-Natal was on course for more than 60%.
About half of South Africa's registered voters cast a ballot in the 4 November local government elections. By 17:00 on election day, 12 million people had voted, about 44% of the roll, and the final turnout was projected at around 50% once evening voting and special votes were added, News24 reported.
That would beat the 2021 local election, when turnout was 46% (News24).
How many people voted in each province?
The IEC released these preliminary figures for votes cast by 17:00 on 4 November, four hours before stations closed.
| Province | Votes cast by 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Gauteng | 3 million |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 2.5 million |
| Western Cape | 1.5 million |
| Eastern Cape | 1.4 million |
| Limpopo | 1.1 million |
| Mpumalanga | 854 901 |
| Free State | 588 237 |
| Northern Cape | 299 381 |
Source: Electoral Commission statement, 4 November 2026. The IEC's North West figure was published with a typo, so it is left out here.
Special votes come on top of this. About 1.4 million were cast on 2 and 3 November (News24).
What does the IEC's own turnout figure say now?
As counted results come in, the IEC publishes a turnout percentage for the voting districts already declared. On Thursday morning, with about a quarter of voting districts in, that figure was 51.2%, according to IEC data compiled by ESP. It will move as more districts report.
Was turnout higher in KwaZulu-Natal?
KZN looked strong. The province had about 2.5 million votes by 15:00, putting it on course for more than 60% turnout, The Witness reported. In the 2024 general election KZN turnout dropped to 45%. Of the more than 300 000 KZN residents registered for special votes, 65% voted during the special voting window (The Witness).
Who stayed home?
News24 reporters, party observers and analysts saw the same gap as in 2021: turnout in mainly white wards was about 10 to 15 percentage points higher than in mainly black wards (News24). Lower turnout in some areas can change who wins a ward even when overall support barely moves.
Where will the official final turnout be published?
The IEC will publish final turnout per municipality, ward and voting district with the results. Its results portal has a "Percentage Voter Turnout" report, which compares votes cast with registered voters. Provisional Western Cape results are expected on Friday, SABC News reported.
FAQ
What was the voter turnout in the 2026 local elections?
About 44% by 17:00 on 4 November, with final turnout projected at around 50%, according to News24. The IEC publishes the official figure with the results.
How does 2026 turnout compare with 2021?
Turnout in the 2021 local elections was 46%.
Which province had the most voters?
Gauteng, with about 3 million votes cast by 17:00 on election day, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 2.5 million.