President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa's local government elections will take place on 4 November 2026. The announcement came during a Presidential Coordinating Council meeting in Ekurhuleni. Party leaders are responding with calls for peaceful campaigning and preparations for the polls.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the date for the 2026 local government elections during closing remarks at an extended Presidential Coordinating Council meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni on Thursday. The polls are set for Wednesday, 4 November 2026, following consultation with Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa, who will soon proclaim it in the government gazette.
African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, addressing party structures in Durban, said the ANC will launch its campaign in July. "The date of the elections has been announced. We launch our campaign in July," Mbalula stated. He expressed optimism despite the party's support in KwaZulu-Natal dropping from 54% in 2019 to 17% in the 2024 general elections, noting the party is rebuilding structures and contesting municipalities across the province.
Hlabisa urged peaceful campaigning ahead of the elections. "From now on we want to appeal for peaceful campaigning. There should be no confrontation," he said. New ANC provincial task team coordinator James Nxumalo affirmed his loyalty, stating, "I’ve been voting for the African National Congress... I will be voting for the ANC."
The announcement follows a recent Ipsos survey finding nearly half of South Africans feel politically homeless. Ramaphosa highlighted the water crisis as a key issue, citing ageing infrastructure and poor maintenance. The Electoral Commission of South Africa noted voter registration weekends on 20 and 21 June 2026, with 508 parties registered.
