As millions of Gauteng residents head to the polls, health authorities have issued an urgent warning about extreme heat linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, cautioning that prolonged exposure to high temperatures could lead to dehydration, heat-related illnesses and medical emergencies.

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South Africans are casting their ballots in the 2026 local government elections on Wednesday, with many voters expected to spend hours travelling to and queuing at voting stations across the province.

Health

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has urged residents to prioritise their health while exercising their democratic right, warning that the persistent hot weather poses a significant risk, particularly to vulnerable groups.

Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said prolonged exposure to high temperatures could have serious consequences for voters spending extended periods outdoors.

“With many residents expected to spend time outdoors, travel and queue at voting stations, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can increase the risk of dehydration, heat-related illnesses and other serious health complications,” said Mabona.

Children

The department warned that children, babies, older persons, pregnant women and people living with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease are particularly vulnerable during periods of extreme heat.

Mabona said excessive temperatures can strain the body and worsen existing health conditions. He also encouraged people taking chronic medication to continue their treatment as prescribed and ensure medicines are stored away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Hydration

The department has urged voters to stay hydrated throughout the day, even if they do not feel thirsty.

“Residents going out to cast their vote are encouraged to drink water regularly throughout the day. Carrying a bottle of water when travelling or waiting in queues is encouraged,” Mabona said.

He cautioned against excessive consumption of sugary drinks, alcohol and caffeine, warning that they can contribute to dehydration.

Residents are also encouraged to limit direct sun exposure by seeking shade whenever possible, wearing lightweight, light-coloured clothing, using hats or umbrellas, and applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

The department further cautioned voters to familiarise themselves with the warning signs of dehydration and heat-related illness, including dry mouth, headaches, unusual fatigue, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating and dark-coloured urine.

Strokes

Of particular concern is heat stroke, which health authorities described as a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

“Warning signs include dizziness, confusion, a severe headache, hot and dry skin, fainting and a very high body temperature. If someone displays these symptoms, move them to a cool place and seek immediate medical assistance or contact Gauteng Emergency Medical Services on 112 from a cellphone or 10177,” said Mabona.

With temperatures expected to remain elevated across the province, the department has appealed to residents to take simple but effective precautions while exercising their democratic right.

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President Trump's Republican Party suffered an electoral humiliation Tuesday night that stretched across the battleground map and into some of the deepest-red territory in America.

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Why it matters: The 2026 midterms will go down as one of the most sweeping repudiations of a sitting president in modern American history, on a scale reminiscent of the post-Watergate reckoning of 1974.

The big picture: Two years after Trump's comeback appeared to herald a historic political realignment, voters delivered a devastating verdict on his second presidency.

• Democrats seized control of both chambers of Congress, on course to gain as many as 40 House seats and at least seven Senate seats — eclipsing their wildest pre-election expectations.
• The wave swept deep into Republican territory, from Texas and Georgia to both Carolinas, flipping hundreds of legislative seats and delivering Democratic trifectas in the unlikeliest of states.

5 takeaways

1. Texas turns blue: After decades of dashed hopes, Democrats finally conquered the nation's most coveted Republican stronghold — in a landslide so sweeping that even three-term Gov. Greg Abbott was driven from office.

• Gina Hinojosa became the state's first Latina governor, while James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Ken Paxton to become the first Texas Democrat elected to the Senate since 1988.
• The Democratic onslaught extended across statewide offices and possibly Texas' House of Representatives, suggesting that the state's political future could be up for grabs after 32 years of GOP dominance.

2. Democrats storm Senate: What once looked like an impossibly difficult map for Democrats gave way to a historic rout, as Republicans watched their 53-seat majority crumble in states Trump carried by double digits.

• Democrats broke a 94-year losing streak in Kansas, ousted Republicans in Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina, and captured South Carolina for the first time since 1998.
• In Maine, Democrats finally toppled five-term Sen. Susan Collins after many failed attempts, putting them on course for a 54-seat majority — with Alaska and even Mississippi offering a chance to make it 55 or 56.

3. MAGA coalition collapses: The multiracial, working-class coalition that powered Trump's 2024 comeback fractured spectacularly Tuesday, raising serious questions about the long-term durability of his MAGA movement.

• AP's nationwide voter survey found roughly 70% of voters under 30 and 60% of Hispanic voters backed Democratic House candidates, amid widespread anger over the economy and the Iran war.
• In heavily Hispanic Starr County, Texas, which Trump famously flipped in 2024, Talarico led by nearly 60 points — a staggering 75-point reversal from two years prior.

4. GOP House firewall crumbles: Democrats are on course for their largest House majority since 2009, potentially winning as many as 255 seats.

• Casualties spanned the entire GOP conference, from MAGA firebrands to battle-tested moderates. Even seats redrawn to shield Republicans from a blue wave fell to Democrats, turning Trump's redistricting offensive into a spectacular miscalculation.
• With control of the House secured, Democrats wasted little time signaling what comes next. Incoming Oversight chair Robert Garcia distilled the party's appetite for investigations into two words: "Lawyer up."

5. 2028's winners and losers: Tuesday's landslide elevated a new generation of Democratic contenders and cast a shadow over Vice President Vance's presidential ambitions.

• Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, whose race was called 15 minutes after polls closed, immediately vaulted into the top tier of Democratic prospects. Keisha Lance Bottoms' historic victory for governor removed a key obstacle for both Ossoff and Sen. Raphael Warnock: She could appoint a Democrat to fill their seat if either became president.
• Vance, Trump's presumed political heir, now faces the fallout from a deeply unpopular Iran war and the collapse of a once-in-a-generation coalition he hoped would carry him to the White House.

The bottom line: For a decade, Trump has been the gravitational center of American politics. Tuesday's results suggest that era may finally be drawing to a close.

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