JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has no intention of delaying the 2026 local government elections.
Although an official date has yet to be set by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the elections are expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.
READ | Local government elections | IEC ramps up preparations
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo told eNCA that “Come rain or shine, the elections will be held.”
According to Mamabolo, the key focus ahead of the elections is finalising ward demarcations and ensuring alignment between voting districts and voting stations.
“It is the basis on which an election rests. We first have to settle the issues of demarcation and ensure boundaries of wards and voting stations align. Once that is done, we then move to the voter roll,” he explains.
On Tuesday, Mamabolo held a media briefing where he shared further details on the IEC’s state of readiness
He revealed that since the 2024 general elections, 34 new political parties have been registered with the commission.