HEADLINE - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has declared the 2026 Local Government Elections free and fair.
While making the declaration, Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepya said it had considered the measures implemented to safeguard the elections, feedback from voters and objections received during the process.
'The Commission is satisfied that the 2026 Local Government are, indeed, free and fair. It is our assessment that the elections were largely conducted in a peaceful environment. The Commission is thus pleased to declare the 2026 Local Government Elections,' he said.
A total of 29.2 million voters were registered for the municipal elections while approximately 15 million South Africans cast their ballots.
He said the national turnout for these elections was 52%, representing an increase of 6.1 percentage points from the 45.9% turnout recorded in the 2021 Local Government Elections.
'Running an election in a democracy is akin to conducting an orchestra. It is about bringing together many different instruments, talents, voices and temperaments. Each has its own contribution to make. Each has its own part to play. And while they may not always produce the same sound, it is the ability to bring them together in pursuit of a common purpose that makes the performance possible