South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) says it will double efforts to register voters for the 2026 local government elections on 4 November. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi says the election campaign will launch later this month. The campaign aims to rekindle belief in democracy and motivate disillusioned voters.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that the local government elections (LGE) will be held on 4 November 2026. The IEC stresses that voters must register in the ward of their voting district, as there is no provision to vote elsewhere.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi says the IEC will launch its election campaign later this month. “At the heart of that campaign is an attempt for the Commission to contribute to rekindle belief in democracy as still a preferred way of arranging public affairs,” he said. He added that it hopes to influence disillusioned voters to believe in voting.
Sheburi said the campaign's success depends on visible, responsive government and service delivery. “That will be a contribution, but it must be met also by the substantive elements of democracy. It must be met by visible, responsive government, visible, responsive service to the party, because that is the only thing that will change voter behaviour.”
