As special voting takes place ahead of South Africa’s municipal elections on Wednesday, 4 November, Globe Post conducted a short, informal opinion poll on its WhatsApp Channel to gauge readers’ voting intentions.
The poll recorded 103 votes across 12 political party options, providing a snapshot of the preferences expressed by readers who voluntarily participated.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) received 31 votes, representing 30.1% of the recorded responses, followed by the Patriotic Alliance (PA) with 22 votes (21.4%) and the African National Congress (ANC) with 12 votes (11.7%).
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ActionSA and Truth Party each received six votes. The MK Party and Inkatha Freedom Party each recorded five votes, followed by Al Jama-ah with four, GOOD with three, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) with two and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) with one.
Globe Post WhatsApp opinion poll results
| Political party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 12 | 11.7% |
| DA | 31 | 30.1% |
| EFF | 6 | 5.8% |
| ActionSA | 6 | 5.8% |
| Truth Party | 6 | 5.8% |
| PAC | 1 | 1.0% |
| Al Jama-ah | 4 | 3.9% |
| ACDP | 2 | 1.9% |
| Patriotic Alliance (PA) | 22 | 21.4% |
| MK Party | 5 | 4.9% |
| Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) | 5 | 4.9% |
| GOOD | 3 | 2.9% |
| Total | 103 | 100%* |
Percentages are rounded.
A small snapshot of a much larger electorate
The informal poll must be viewed against the significantly larger registered electorate within Globe Post’s six principal coverage wards in Johannesburg’s southern communities.
According to the newspaper’s published 2026 electoral analysis, 129,233 registered voters are spread across Wards 7, 8, 9, 120, 121 and 122.
The registered-voter breakdown is:
- Ward 7: 20,769
- Ward 8: 20,305
- Ward 9: 16,273
- Ward 120: 18,757
- Ward 121: 20,262
- Ward 122: 32,867
These wards cover communities including Ennerdale, Finetown, Lenasia, Lenasia South, Thembelihle, Lawley, Zakaria Park, Lehae and Vlakfontein.
With 129,233 registered voters across these wards, the 103 recorded WhatsApp poll selections represent a very small, self-selected sample. Participation was not restricted to registered voters living in the coverage area, and the results cannot be used to measure support across these wards.
Not all political parties were represented
Globe Post emphasises that not all political parties contesting the municipal elections were included in the first WhatsApp poll which ran on the channel for an hour.
The survey was limited to 12 listed political parties and did not provide respondents with the full range of parties or candidates appearing on municipal ballots.
Furthermore, the survey was not conducted using scientific sampling methods. Respondents participated voluntarily, meaning that WhatsApp Channel followers who chose to vote may hold different political preferences from the broader electorate.
The 103 recorded selections also do not independently establish the number of unique individuals who participated unless each respondent was restricted to one answer.
Globe Post has not published the identities or individual voting preferences of participants.
The newspaper stresses that the results must not be interpreted as official election results, a representative measure of political support or a prediction of which party will win any ward.
The poll was intended solely to encourage civic participation and provide an informal indication of voting intentions among participating readers.
As South Africans prepare to cast their ballots, Globe Post encourages all eligible voters to exercise their democratic right and make informed, independent decisions.
Ultimately, the official results will be determined by ballots cast and counted through the Electoral Commission’s election process, not by social media opinion polls.
Globe Post remains committed to independent journalism, electoral fairness and providing a platform for informed public participation.
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