RIP | Elderly woman dies while waiting to vote in KZN

An elderly woman died after collapsing while waiting to cast her vote at a polling station in Durban on Wednesday, 4 November.

The woman, believed to be in her late 60s, collapsed at Shallcross Primary School during South Africa’s 2026 local government elections.

According to reports, she experienced a medical emergency while standing in the queue. Her family rushed her to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Ambulance allegedly failed to arrive

Election observer Pretty Jwarah said people at the voting station tried to assist the woman after she collapsed.

Jwarah said they gave her water and contacted her daughter before calling for an ambulance.

However, the ambulance allegedly failed to arrive, prompting the family to arrange private transport to hospital.

Jwarah later contacted the woman’s daughter, who confirmed her mother’s death.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) presiding officer at the voting station confirmed the incident.

LGE 2026 | An elderly woman has died after collapsing while waiting to vote at Shallcross Primary School, south of Durban. Community members say an ambulance was called, but it did not arrive. pic.twitter.com/9lD9h4r1C8

— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 4, 2026

IEC seeks answers

IEC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said the commission was gathering information to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

Vedan expressed condolences to the family and said the right to vote should never come at the expense of human life and dignity.

The woman’s identity has not been released, while the cause of her death remains unconfirmed.