Wednesday 4 November 2026 · Updated 06:25
Morning roundup

Morning roundup: Election day, red fire warning and fuel prices | 4 November 2026

Polls are open until 21:00, a Red Level 10 veld fire warning covers parts of North West and the Free State, and new fuel prices take effect today. Here is what you need to know this Wednesday morning.

By Staff Reporter · Published

A blue IEC 'Voting station' sign with an arrow on a mesh fence, with IEC tape in the foreground
File photo: voting station signage in Cape Town for the 2026 local government elections. Illustrative: not an Emfuleni voting station. Photo: Husskeyy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Election day

Voting stations are open from 07:00 to 21:00 today at 23,696 voting stations, with 29.2 million registered voters.1

Bring a valid ID book, smart ID card or temporary identity certificate.2

Special voting on 2 and 3 November recorded 1,425,942 votes, according to the IEC’s preliminary figures.1

Emfuleni: the wards to watch

Our Emfuleni elections guide explains the seat count and what happens after the vote.

Read the area guides for Vereeniging, Sebokeng and Vanderbijlpark.

Weather: red fire warning

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 veld fire warning for 11 municipalities in North West and the Free State, valid from 09:00 to 17:59.3 Read the full list of areas.

Weather: the Vaal

Expect a high of about 31° in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, with little or no rain and an extreme UV index. See the Vereeniging forecast.

SAWS has asked voters to carry water and use shade while they queue.4

Why it matters
  • Queues and heat: a long wait in the sun with extreme UV calls for water, a hat and sunscreen.
  • Fire risk: in the red-warning areas, do not burn anything outdoors and report smoke at once.

Fuel prices from today

Petrol 93 and 95 drop by 1c a litre. Diesel drops by 109.82c a litre (0.05% sulphur) and 119.82c a litre (0.005% sulphur).5

The retail maximum price of illuminating paraffin rises by R3.66 a litre, and LPG rises by 183c a kilogram (208c in the Western Cape).5

Crime

NATJOINTS reported 21 criminal cases and six arrests linked to the elections during special voting.6

Sources
  1. Special voting complete and readiness for Election Day, Electoral Commission of South Africa
  2. All systems go for Election Day, SAnews
  3. Veld fire conditions warning, Level 10, 4 November 2026, South African Weather Service
  4. Extreme heat advisory, The South African, quoting SAWS
  5. Minister announces adjustment of fuel prices effective 4 November, South African Government
  6. 21 election-related cases recorded, six suspects arrested: NATJOINTS, SABC News

SAWS is credited for every warning we report. See our editorial policy.

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