Bongani Bingwa speaks to Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, as voters head to the polls for the 2026 Local Government Elections. More than 700,000 people cast special votes on the first day, in a process the IEC described as largely successful, despite several challenges. These included arrests in the Eastern Cape over the alleged impersonation of IEC officials, incidents of intimidation and damage to election materials in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as delays at some voting stations in Cape Town because ballot papers were not delivered on time. We get an update on the IEC’s state of readiness, the challenges encountered during special voting, measures to protect the integrity of the elections and what voters can expect as they make their way to the ballot box.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station.  

Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

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