With the registered electorate across seven wards growing by nearly 8,000 since 2021, the upcoming local government elections present a significant test of political participation. The ANC won all seven wards in the previous election, but low voter turnout, changing registration figures and a crowded candidate landscape raise important questions about the future of local representation.
The number of registered voters across seven wards in the wider Orange Farm electoral coverage area has increased to 116,103 ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections, representing a net increase of 7,945 voters compared with 2021.
The latest registration figures for Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 131 reflect a 7.35% increase in the combined registered electorate, introducing another important dimension to the political contest ahead of the 4 November elections.
However, an analysis of the 2021 municipal elections reveals a more pressing challenge: fewer than half of registered voters were reflected in the reported voting figures.
Across the same seven wards, 108,158 people were registered to vote in 2021, while the available records reflect 44,029 votes equivalent to approximately 40.7% of the registered electorate.
The difference between registered voters and the reported voting figure was 64,129.
As political parties prepare to compete for support, the central question is whether a larger electorate will translate into stronger participation at the ballot box.
Registered electorate increases by nearly 8,000
The latest registration figures show that six of the seven wards recorded increases compared with the 2021 figures, while Ward 3 registered a decline.
Ward 131 experienced the largest numerical increase, climbing from 13,564 registered voters in 2021 to 16,990 in 2026 an additional 3,426 voters, or 25.3%.
Ward 6 followed with an increase of 2,624 registered voters, bringing its total to 21,472. This makes it the ward with the largest registered electorate among the seven under review.
Ward 4 increased by 1,961 voters to 19,535, while Ward 1 rose by 1,355 to 15,649.
Ward 2 recorded a smaller increase of 314 voters, while Ward 5 remained relatively stable, adding just 31 registered voters.
Ward 3 was the only ward to experience a decline, with its registered electorate falling from 13,533 to 11,767, a reduction of 1,766 voters, or 13%.
The changes raise questions about voter registration patterns, residential movement and whether administrative or ward-boundary adjustments may have contributed to the differences.
These factors require further investigation before any conclusions can be drawn about the reasons behind the increases and decreases.
Registered voters: 2021 compared with 2026
| Ward | 2021 voters | 2026 voters | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ward 1 | 14,294 | 15,649 | +1,355 |
| Ward 2 | 14,308 | 14,622 | +314 |
| Ward 3 | 13,533 | 11,767 | −1,766 |
| Ward 4 | 17,574 | 19,535 | +1,961 |
| Ward 5 | 16,037 | 16,068 | +31 |
| Ward 6 | 18,848 | 21,472 | +2,624 |
| Ward 131 | 13,564 | 16,990 | +3,426 |
| Total | 108,158 | 116,103 | +7,945 |
Source: 2021 municipal election figures and latest IEC registered-voter figures supplied for the seven wards.
Together, the seven wards contain 56 voting districts according to the latest registration data.
The increase in registered voters is significant, but it does not necessarily mean that voter participation will improve.
The challenge facing political parties is to turn voter registration into actual votes.
The participation challenge: What happened in 2021?
Despite the substantial number of registered voters in 2021, the available figures show that participation remained low across the region.
Ward 6 recorded the highest number of reported votes relative to its registered electorate, with 8,764 votes against 18,848 registered voters.
Ward 5 recorded the lowest ratio, with 5,746 votes against 16,037 registered voters.
The figures suggest that voter participation varied considerably across the seven wards.
For political parties, these differences could influence campaigning strategies and where resources are concentrated.
But the data also raises broader questions about public confidence in local government and whether residents believe participating in elections can make a meaningful difference.
It would be inaccurate to assume that everyone who did not participate was protesting against political parties or municipal leadership.
Non-participation may result from numerous factors, including personal circumstances, access to voting stations or disengagement from electoral politics.
Nevertheless, the scale of non-participation remains a significant concern.
ANC secured all seven wards in 2021
The ANC emerged victorious in all seven wards during the 2021 municipal elections, maintaining a strong political presence across the region.
The party recorded particularly commanding performances in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Ward 4 was among its strongest areas, with ANC candidate Simon Butana Molefe securing 4,572 votes, representing a reported 65.5% of valid ward votes.
However, opposition parties demonstrated considerable support in some wards.
Ward 131 produced one of the most competitive results, with the ANC’s Makhosazana Cynthia Ndlela receiving 2,839 votes, compared with 2,200 for the EFF.
The difference of 639 votes suggests that the ward could warrant particular attention ahead of the 2026 elections.
Ward 2 also showed stronger opposition competition, with the EFF receiving 1,435 votes against the ANC’s 2,681.
These figures demonstrate that while the ANC maintained control of all seven ward seats, its electoral dominance was not uniform.
The results provide a historical benchmark against which the 2026 contests can be assessed.
410 candidate entries across seven wards
The 2026 electoral contest features a crowded candidate landscape.
An analysis of the candidate lists identifies 410 ward candidate entries across the seven wards.
However, the number should not be interpreted as 410 different individuals.
Of the 410 entries, 257 are associated with candidates also nominated in other wards, representing approximately 62.7% of the combined entries.
Ward 2 and Ward 6 each have 61 candidate entries, followed by Ward 1 with 59 and Ward 3 with 58.
Wards 4, 5 and 131 each have 57 entries.
Candidate landscape
| Ward | Candidate entries | Multi-ward entries |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 1 | 59 | 37 |
| Ward 2 | 61 | 39 |
| Ward 3 | 58 | 36 |
| Ward 4 | 57 | 38 |
| Ward 5 | 57 | 34 |
| Ward 6 | 61 | 35 |
| Ward 131 | 57 | 38 |
| Total | 410 | 257 |
The high proportion of repeated candidacies highlights the electoral strategies adopted by political parties seeking representation across Johannesburg.
It also raises questions about how voters assess candidates who may be contesting more than one community.
Why do candidates stand in multiple wards?
South Africa’s municipal electoral system permits candidates to stand in multiple wards under applicable electoral rules.
In metropolitan municipalities such as Johannesburg, voters receive two ballot papers.
The first allows them to vote for a ward councillor, while the second determines their preferred political party for proportional representation in council.
Ward votes also play a role in calculating parties’ overall council representation, creating an incentive for political parties to field candidates across many wards.
This means a party may benefit electorally from contesting a ward even when its candidate does not win the ward councillor position.
For residents, however, the important questions concern the visibility, accessibility and commitment of candidates to their communities.
A candidate’s presence on a ballot paper does not, by itself, demonstrate a record of community engagement.
Equally, standing in more than one ward does not necessarily indicate a lack of commitment.
Voters should therefore examine candidates’ backgrounds, community involvement and proposed solutions to local challenges.
A larger electorate changes the political stakes
The increase in registered voters across the seven wards introduces another important factor into the 2026 election.
Ward 131, which experienced the largest registration increase, was also among the wards where the ANC faced its strongest opposition in 2021.
The combination of a larger registered electorate and historically competitive voting patterns makes the ward particularly interesting.
Ward 6, which now has 21,472 registered voters, represents another significant electoral constituency.
At the same time, Ward 3’s reduction in registered voters raises questions about changes in the electorate and the potential implications for local campaigning.
However, registration growth alone does not favour any particular political party.
Newly registered voters, voters transferring into a ward and previously registered voters who did not participate may have different political preferences.
It would therefore be premature to predict political gains or losses without reliable evidence of current voting intentions.
Five years of political accountability
The upcoming elections are also an opportunity to examine the performance of ward representatives and the City of Johannesburg since 2021.
The ANC’s victories across all seven wards placed considerable responsibility on the party’s elected councillors.
Residents are entitled to evaluate how their representatives have responded to concerns involving roads, water, sanitation, electricity, refuse collection, housing-related matters and community infrastructure.
While councillors do not personally administer every municipal service, they are responsible for representing residents through municipal structures and helping to hold the administration accountable.
The critical questions are whether councillors have been accessible, whether community concerns have been raised effectively and whether there is measurable evidence of progress.
Opposition parties and independent candidates seeking election must also demonstrate how their proposed approaches would improve representation and municipal accountability.
An extensive list of candidates is meaningful only if voters can distinguish between them and assess what they stand for.
Can Orange Farm’s voters change the outcome?
The 2021 elections established the ANC as the dominant ward-level political force across the seven wards.
The latest registration figures now show a larger combined electorate, while the candidate lists reveal extensive political competition.
But neither the increase in registered voters nor the number of candidates guarantees a different electoral outcome.
The decisive factor could be participation.
Political parties will need to retain their existing supporters while persuading residents who previously stayed away to take part.
For voters, the election offers an opportunity to assess performance, question candidates and make informed decisions about local representation.
In a region where the reported 2021 voting figures were substantially lower than the number of registered voters, restoring confidence in local democratic participation is an important challenge.
Beyond the numbers: The real election test
The seven wards now account for 116,103 registered voters, almost 8,000 more than in 2021.
They also have 410 candidate entries, including a substantial number of repeated multi-ward candidacies.
Yet the central concern remains whether more registered voters and more names on ballot papers will result in stronger democratic participation and more effective representation.
The 2026 local government elections are not simply a contest between political parties.
They are an opportunity for residents to evaluate municipal leadership, consider alternative candidates and determine who should represent their interests for the next five years.
For Orange Farm, the biggest electoral question may not be how many candidates are standing but how many residents will exercise their right to vote, and what they expect from those elected.
About this special report
This report examines Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 131, forming part of the wider Orange Farm News electoral reporting area.
The 2026 registration figures were supplied from an IEC registered-voter count by municipality and ward. The 2021 election data and 2026 candidate figures were drawn from the publication’s electoral research compilation.
Changes in registration totals do not necessarily represent population growth, and electoral boundaries and the dates of voter-register extracts should be checked when making comparisons.
Orange Farm News remains committed to independent, evidence-based reporting that promotes electoral information integrity and enables residents to make informed decisions.
