The Electoral Commission has advised political parties to finalise their internal systems and nomination processes by the end of July to ensure that they can start submitting their candidate lists when the Local Government Elections (LGE) date is proclaimed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced that the local elections will be held on November 4, 2026.
VIDEO | Local Government Elections announcement:
IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi says the announcement allows contestants time to prepare their candidate nomination processes.
The May 2024 national and provincial elections saw a number of parties unsuccessfully challenging the IEC’s nomination platform after they did not meet the deadline for submissions.
Sheburi says, “In order to improve compliance, since last year, we have had a number of structured hearings and sessions with those who could be contestants and independent candidates to take them through the requirements.”
“But we will also announce the availability of the nomination system so that parties can start playing on it, familiarise themselves with the system, nominate their candidates in order to meet the deadline after the election is proclaimed, and the Commission has issued a timetable to indicate the critical time of dates for activities in preparation for these elections.”
Meanwhile, the IEC and the Department of Education have launched their annual Schools Democracy Programme at Sterlizia High School in Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
The programme forms part of a wider national effort to strengthen democracy education, promote voter awareness, and encourage meaningful participation among young people ahead of the Local Government Elections.
VIDEO | IEC launches youth democracy programme:
