By Mapaballo Borotho
- The IEC says posters claiming foreign nationals will contest the 2026 municipal elections are false and misleading.
- The images circulating online sparked outrage among citizens on social media.
- The commission has reminded the public that only registered South African citizens are legally allowed to stand for public office.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has dismissed posters circulating on social media claiming that foreign nationals will be contesting the upcoming local government elections, describing the claims as false and misleading.
This follows the circulation of two images of foreign nationals on social media, accompanied by captions alleging that the men in the pictures would be contesting the 2026 municipal elections sparking outrage among some citizens online.
South Africa is preparing for the next round of municipal elections, expected in the coming months.
Voters will head to the polls to elect councils for district, metropolitan and local municipalities across all nine provinces.
The IEC said the posters are fabricated and form part of a growing wave of election-related misinformation spreading across social media platforms.
The commission has urged the public to verify political material before sharing it online, warning that false information can inflame tensions and mislead voters in the lead-up to the polls.
“Fake posters are spreading on social media claiming foreign nationals are standing as independent candidates in wards in Mdantsane and Ezibeleni. This is false,” the electorate said.
The elections body further clarified that foreign nationals cannot contest South African elections by law, and that only registered South African citizens are allowed to stand for public office.
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