South Africa’s seventh democratic Local Government Elections (LGE) will be held on 4 November 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Thursday during the extended President’s Coordinating Council meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
Ramaphosa said the election date aligns with the constitutional requirement that local polls be held within 90 days of the expiry of municipal council terms, which end on 2 November 2026. He noted that he traditionally prefers mid-week voting, leading to the selection of a Wednesday for the national poll.
“As 2026 is the year in which the local government elections are held, they should be held on a Wednesday, which is the middle of the week, on a date that I now determine as 4 November 2026,” the President said.
Although the announcement sets the official date, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is expected to formally gazette the proclamation in the coming days, making the date legally binding.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has already begun preparations for the election season, confirming that its first national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026. The IEC is expected to intensify outreach campaigns in the coming months to encourage voter registration, particularly among young and first-time voters.
Local government elections are widely regarded as a key test of service delivery and political sentiment at grassroots level, with municipalities responsible for water provision, electricity distribution, sanitation, housing support and local infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the IEC also released results of by-elections held on 29 April 2026 in the Western Cape, which reflected shifts in voter support between major political parties.
In the Stellenbosch Municipality, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) secured Ward 16, previously held by the Democratic Alliance (DA). The newly elected councillor, Elsabe Vermeulen, won the seat with 39.48% of the total votes cast. This marks a decrease from the DA’s 47.65% performance in the 2021 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout in the ward was recorded at 46.51%.
In the George Municipality, the DA regained momentum by winning Ward 25 from the African National Congress (ANC). Jarques Denvar Esau was elected as the new councillor after the party secured 42.97% of the vote, an improvement from its 29.80% performance in the 2021 elections. The ANC lost the seat it previously held. Voter turnout in the ward stood at 58.23%.
The IEC said the by-elections reflect continued volatility in local voter preferences ahead of the 2026 municipal polls, as parties intensify campaigns to strengthen their foothold in key municipalities across the country.
With the official election date now confirmed, political parties are expected to ramp up mobilisation efforts in what is likely to be a highly contested electoral season focused on governance, accountability and service delivery at local level.
