Durban voters cast ballots with hope, frustration and calls for change - IOL

Residents queue to vote during the 2026 local government elections.

Hope and frustration shaped the mood at Berea Primary School in eThekwini’s Ward 31, where voters said they were casting their ballots in the hope of seeing meaningful change in Durban and across South Africa.

As community members cast their ballots, many shared their motivations, reflecting on the state of the city and their desires for real change.

Pensioner Tom Lambert said it was not hope or frustration that brought him out to vote, but to bring Durban into the city that it ought to be, and to vote for a man and vote for a party that has the integrity, honesty and capability of bringing Durban into the city that we all want it to be. 

Sindi Mpanza said hope and frustration brought her out to vote, and said she is sure that when their fathers voted in 1994, they had hope for a much better South Africa, especially for people of colour. 

“But then we are here. We all know the problems that the country is facing, especially us people of colour, especially black people,” Mpanza said. 

“The townships, as much as I live here, but the townships, people living in the farms and all that. It’s bad. Even around here, we have young men who are paras (vagrants). A lot of them.” 

Mpanza explained that it goes back to not properly looking after the country. The law is not being enforced properly as it is supposed to be. She said a lot is going wrong. There is corruption, but humility is gone. People are doing atrocious things. 

She said she is voting in the hopes that things get better. 

“I really believe there is hope somewhere… I even have my son here. So, I made sure that he wakes up; he comes and votes,” Mpanza said. 

Voters line up at Berea Primary School in eThekwini as the 2026 local government elections get underway.

Like Mpanza, Cookie Naidoo said both hope and frustration drove her to vote. 

“We really need change in this country; it’s such a beautiful place. And people, almost every person that I speak to, are frustrated with the crime and everything that’s going on,” Naidoo said. 

“So let’s just hope today’s gonna be a turning point.” 

Pensioner Rob Lyle, who has been voting since 1971, said he has not missed a chance to vote because it is his duty and his privilege. 

“It’s always hope. You must have hope. You can’t vote out of despair,” Lyle said.