South Africans vote in local government elections on Wednesday 4 November, choosing the municipal councillors who make decisions on water, electricity, roads, refuse collection and rates and who then elect the mayor. Voters in the eight metros receive two ballot papers; those in local municipalities receive three. In this explainer, Daily Maverick’s Rebecca Davis sets out where and when to vote, which ID documents are accepted, what the ward, proportional representation and district ballots are for, and how votes are converted into council seats. In 2021, about three in ten eligible South Africans voted.
Reporting by: Rebecca Davis
Filmed by: Joel Seboa
Sub-edited by: Kevin Flynn
Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick
Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyMaverickSA/videos
Follow us on X : https://x.com/dailymaverick
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick
Check our website: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dailymaverick/
Check out our TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailymavericksa
Download Daily Maverick Mobile App: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/daily-maverick-app/
YouTube chapters
00:00 – What We Are Voting For
00:52 – When and Where to Vote
02:08 – Party Clothing and Campaigning
02:52 – Two or Three Ballot Papers
04:00 – Ballot 1: Your Ward Councillor
05:32 – Ballot 2: Proportional Representation
06:52 – Ballot 3: The District Council
08:08 – How Votes Become Council Seats
10:48 – Electing the Mayor
11:20 – On the Day: Final Points
