The Municipal Demarcation Board has officially handed over the final electoral wards to the Independent Electoral Commission for the 2026/27 local government elections. This handover marks a key milestone in preparations, with a slight increase in the number of wards to over 4,400. The process involved community consultations and addressed numerous objections, though some disputes remain in court.
In Centurion, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) handed over the final ward boundaries to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on December 10, 2025, under the theme 'Democracy in Motion, Shaping your Ward towards Free and Fair Elections.' This step paves the way for the IEC to prepare for the local government elections scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027, following the expiration of the current municipal term on November 1, 2026.
MDB Chairperson Thabo Manyoni explained that the process began early in 2024 with awareness programs for communities. They worked with more than 4,470 wards and received over 2,000 objections. Most wards remain unchanged from previous elections to ensure stability. 'This process of course for these elections now, it started early last year. We went out to communities just for an awareness programme... So, we started with that process, I can indicate for now we’ve worked with more than 4 470-something wards in the country and of course we received lots of objections, more than 2 000 I think also,' Manyoni said.
Some objections are unresolved due to ongoing court cases, particularly two in KwaZulu-Natal. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo noted that the commission will assess how the new wards affect existing voting districts and engage local party committees for resolutions. He highlighted special attention needed in eThekwini and uMkhanyakude districts due to litigation.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa acknowledged the complexity of demarcation, which can cause unease in affected areas. The MDB conducted extensive consultations from mid-2024, including public meetings in April-June 2025 and objection periods. 'We also acknowledge candidly that demarcation is a complex exercise, and that it sometimes produces unease or even unhappiness in affected areas,' Hlabisa stated. Political parties have been advised to finalize nomination lists by the end of June 2026.
