IEC Orders Recounts in 5 Wards as Nearly 200 Objections Pile Up After 12 Million South Africans Vote

IEC Orders Recounts in 5 Wards as Nearly 200 Objections Pile Up After 12 Million South Africans Vote

South Africa's election commission has ordered recounts in five wards while handling almost 200 objections before final results are declared, after roughly 12 million voters cast ballots in the 2026 local government elections.

· 2 min read ·
electionsafrica

The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA are locked in high-stakes coalition talks over hung councils in major Gauteng metros, as the African National Congress lost nearly 700,000 votes despite remaining the country's largest party.

South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) has ordered recounts in five wards across Tshwane and Mangaung as it works through nearly 200 objections ahead of the final results declaration [282347]. The recounts come as counting from the 2026 local government elections enters its last stage, with officials expected to announce final results soon [282032].

About 12 million South Africans had voted by 5pm on Wednesday, with Gauteng recording the highest turnout, according to preliminary figures from the IEC [279689][280134]. More than 29 million people had registered to vote across roughly 23,700 polling stations nationwide [279372].

Partial results point to coalition battles in several major metros, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini [282071]. In Gauteng, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA are locked in high-stakes coalition talks, with hung councils leaving the future of municipal governance uncertain [282351].

The African National Congress (ANC) remains the country's largest party, but new voting-station data shows it lost nearly 700,000 votes even as more people went to the polls — figures that point to a shrinking mandate ahead of the 2029 election [282343]. The party, which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994, faced a major test as opposition parties fought for control of municipalities [278684][280134].

President Cyril Ramaphosa cast his vote among the millions taking part in the closely watched election, which parties see as a measure of the national mood before the next national polls [279335]. Water shortages, unemployment, crime and basic service delivery dominated voter concerns [278684][279346].

The elections are also being watched as a test of public trust in democracy itself, beyond party support [281142]. Experts noted that delays in close races are a normal part of the process, not a sign of fraud, as mail-in and provisional ballots take longer to verify and tight contests require recounts and audits [278927].

Sources

South Africa’s Local Election Results Near Announcement #282032South Africa Votes: 29 Million Decide Local Power #279372Coalition battles ahead in key South African cities as vote counting wraps up #282071ANC's Grip on South Africa Tested as Voters Head to Polls #278684South Africa’s 2026 local elections draw just 12 million voters as counting begins #279689South Africa votes: Water, jobs, and crime dominate local elections #279346South Africa Votes: 12 Million Cast Ballots, ANC Faces Major Test #280134Ramaphosa Votes as South Africa Watches Key Election #279335South Africa Orders Recounts in Five Wards as Nearly 200 Election Objections Mount #282347South Africa’s Democracy Tested as Trust in Ruling Party Falls #281142ANC Loses 700,000 Votes—Despite Winning South Africa's Election #282343DA and ActionSA Face Coalition Showdown in Gauteng #282351Why Some 2026 Election Results Will Take Days — And Why That’s Normal #278927

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