By Mapaballo Borotho
- South Africa’s 2026 local government elections are expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.
- More than 500 political parties are already registered with the IEC, which could make ballots much longer.
- Voter registration is set for June and July, with the official election date still to be announced.
South Africa’s 2026 local government elections are expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says more than 500 political parties are currently registered on its system ahead of the polls.
Of these, 299 parties are registered at a national level, while 209 are registered at provincial, district, or municipal level.
The IEC says the growing number of political parties is concerning, as it could significantly increase the length of ballot papers during the 2026 local elections.
The electoral body briefed the public on its readiness on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
The IEC said it will announce the final number of political parties participating in the upcoming local government elections in due course. This is because additional parties may still register before the election date is announced after June.
IEC spokesperson Masego Shiburi says democracy does not place a limit on the number of political parties that can contest elections.
The Commission also confirmed that voter registration is expected to take place in June and July.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will announce the official election date.
READ NEXT: IEC announces June registration weekend ahead of elections
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