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File Image: Political parties seen on screen.
The upcoming local government elections are expected to see intense high level of contestation. This as the number of political parties registered with the IEC currently stands at just over 500.
The Electoral Commission has vowed to educate these entities, many of whom have been in government about political and civic education. This includes their obligations among others to disclose donations they have received to the IEC.
The number of political parties continues to grow as the country prepares for the Local Government Elections.
The IEC has registered 62 new political parties since last year’s polls.
Going towards the local polls, by-elections, which is an election that takes place in a municipal ward between general municipal elections will cease to exist.
This is to avoid voter confusion and administrative challenges when a by-election occurs close to a general municipal election.
“Therefore, cessation of by-elections take effect on 30 April 2026. This date relates to the occurrence of the vacancy, not the holding of the by-election, meaning by-elections can still take place after this date if the vacancy arose earlier. The cessation period does not apply to PR councillors, whose vacancies may be filled until the eve of the general elections. The Proportional Representative (PR) councillors’ vacancies can only be filled by the Chief Electoral Officer declaring a replacement councillor elected,” says the IEC’s Masego Sheburi.
On issues around political party funding, 90 percent of parties in Parliament submitted their audited financial statements to the Commission on time, except Fadiel Adams’ National Coloured Congress.
“The Electoral Commission reports a 90% compliance rate among represented political parties, with 18 of 20 submitting audited financial statements for 2024/25. Build One SA and the National Coloured Congress have been issued formal directions for non-submission on the due date of 30 September 2025,” Sheburi explains.
Next on the calendar on the road to elections will be the handover of ward boundaries next month by the Municipal Demarcation Board to the IEC.
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