A new civic survey has exposed a significant accountability gap between communities and local government in the North West, with 38% of residents saying they have never engaged with their ward councillor since the 2021 Local Government Elections. The findings, released by Civic Root Advocacy (CRA) on Monday, have raised concerns about the accessibility of elected representatives, public participation in municipal affairs and access to basic services across communities in the province. The Citizen Well-being Survey was conducted as part…

South Africa’s voters’ roll has surpassed the 29 million mark after nearly 1.8 million people interacted with the Electoral Commission during the final voter registration weekend ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced on Monday that 1 794 051 citizens either visited one of the country’s 23 699 registration stations or used the online voter registration portal on 1 and 2 August to register, inspect or update their voting details. Speaking during a…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has announced Nthabiseng Tshivhenga as its mayoral candidate for the City of Ekurhuleni ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, positioning her to lead the party’s campaign in one of Gauteng’s key metropolitan municipalities. The announcement was made by the EFF Gauteng on Friday, a day before the country’s final voter registration weekend, during which the Electoral Commission (IEC) is expected to register eligible voters ahead of the municipal polls. IEC Chief Electoral…

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…

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has directed some of its structures to swiftly conclude their internal elections and shift their focus to preparing for the upcoming local government elections, where it is expected to face off with the MK Party. In a statement issued after a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the party said all outstanding branch inaugurations must be finalised by 31 May 2026. It said it has deployed leaders to districts to support, guide, and…

A civil society organisation has welcomed renewed efforts by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to increase voter participation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, while announcing its own intervention aimed at strengthening accountability at municipal level. Civic Root Advocacy issued a statement on Tuesday praising the IEC’s latest outreach strategies, unveiled during a logo reveal event held in Midrand. The organisation described the Commission’s plans, including a forthcoming television series on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and a…

The ANC in the eThekwini region, once dubbed the biggest region of the former governing party in the country, has set itself a target to host its much-awaited elective conference before this year’s local government elections, potentially avoiding two centres of power. The assurance comes after allegations that some within the regional task team (RTT) are deliberately delaying the conference in order to “cling to power” and influence the nomination of councillor candidates. The spokesperson of the RTT, Thinta Cibane,…

South Africans are being urged to begin preparing for the 2026 local government elections, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announcing that a nationwide voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June. The commission said the registration weekend is intended to maximise opportunities for eligible voters to register closer to where they live and to broaden participation in the upcoming municipal elections. Preparations for the elections are already underway, with several key administrative milestones either…

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo has dismissed concerns raised by a recent article circulated by the party’s National Chairperson, Blade Nzimande. According to the province, the article has caused confusion among members and supporters because it creates an impression that there is growing disagreement about the party’s plan to contest the 2026 Local Government Elections. SACP Limpopo said members should remain guided by Congress resolutions that affirm the party’s decision to participate in the 2026 elections under…

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it has made major progress in preparing for the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), with key milestones achieved in voter registration, political party compliance, and consultation on possible electronic voting. In a media briefing on Tuesday, the Commission said more than 305 000 new voters registered between January and September 2025, while just over 60 000 updated their registration details. The IEC noted that September saw the highest number of new registrations,…