Songezo Zibi frustrated by voting station distance - TimesLIVE

Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has raised concerns about his designated voting station and that of his son being located up to 5km away, despite a voting station situated right outside his home.

Millions of South Africans are heading to the polls on Wednesday for the 2026 local government elections. Voting stations opened at 7am and are set to close at 9pm.

Several voters have reportedly been turned away or redirected, as local government elections require citizens to vote at the station where they are registered.

Taking to X, Zibi complained that he and his son, who is a first-time voter, were assigned to stations far from their residence, saying this could discourage voters.

“There’s a voting station outside my gate,” Zibi wrote on X. “I’ve voted there since 2006. This time I’m voting 1km away from where I normally vote. My son (who lives with me) is voting 5km away. I foresee a lot of people just staying at home as a result.”

He added that many people were turning back from stations they were redirected to due to long queues.

“In Heuwelsig Estate, the tent in front of the gate is empty because most people from that estate are registered elsewhere,” Zibi noted. “‘Elsewhere’, the queue is super long, so people are turning back. Imagine people with no cars.”

Despite these challenges, Zibi arrived at his assigned voting station in Tshwane and urged residents to double-check their registered polling station before heading out to vote.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, Electoral Commission (IEC) chair Mosotho Moepya said voting stations had been running smoothly since opening at 7am, with no major glitches reported so far. Moepya emphasised that voters may not cast their ballots at just any voting station in their ward.

“You vote at the specific voting station where you are registered. What this means is that although you may register anywhere in that ward, you only vote at the voting station where you registered,” he said.