Counting continues at 546 KwaZulu-Natal polling stations
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SABC News
Counting is continuing at the 546 polling stations in Zululand District after stations closed for South Africa’s 2026 municipal elections. The electoral commission has provided generators and coordinated with police to keep operations running, reports SABC News.
Counting is continuing at most of the 546 polling stations in Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, after stations closed at 9pm for the 2026 municipal elections. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has provided generators and coordinated with Eskom, the state electricity provider, to limit the impact of power cuts during the count, reports SABC News.
The IEC’s regional manager for Zululand, Phakamani Mabaso, reported minor disturbances, including alleged clashes between Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP) supporters and African National Congress (ANC) members in AbaQulusi Municipality. At least two ANC members received treatment from paramedics, while Mabaso attributed some of the incidents to alcohol consumption.
KwaZulu-Natal police described the province as stable despite isolated episodes of political intolerance. The acting provincial commissioner, Phumelele Makoba, said law enforcement had monitored 165 stations classified as high risk, 1,014 as medium risk and 3,550 as low risk across the 11 districts. Reported power cuts in several areas did not interrupt voting or counting, according to police.
The count follows the special vote by 1.4 million South African voters and the electoral commission’s strengthening of ballot security.
