By Marcus Moloko
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Wednesday officially launched the national programme for the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), ahead of the general voter registration weekend scheduled for 20 and 21 June, as political parties begin unveiling mayoral candidates to lead their campaigns in key metros such as Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, where fierce electoral contests are expected.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially announced 4 November 2026 as the date for South Africa’s upcoming Local Government Elections, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic calendar as political parties mobilise support ahead of the polls.
“The 4th of November 2026 is the date that we have set for the Local Government Elections that will have completed a full five years since the 2021 [municipal elections]. This is in line with our constitutional construct [to] keep to those timelines that are clearly set out in our Constitution,” Ramaphosa said at that time.
Addressing representative of all political parties contesting the elections at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, the IEC said it was ready to deliver free and fair elections, unveiling a national communication campaign to be rolled out across multiple platforms in the coming months.
Under the theme “Get Up. Show Up. Vote,” the campaign aims to encourage active citizen participation and raise awareness about key aspects of the electoral process, including operational readiness, election timelines and other priority information for voters and stakeholders.
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IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya expressed the importance of civic duty, saying: “This is more than a launch. It is a call to action — for every South African to get informed, get involved, and show up to vote. Our democracy depends on participation, and local government is where communities feel the impact most directly.”
He added: “The work we unveil today transcends marketing; it is a vital exercise in democratic consolidation. Therefore, the Commission urgently calls on all eligible South Africans particularly first-time voters to participate in our national voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026.”
The commission further added that preparations for the June voter registration weekend were at an advanced stage, with the Department of Home Affairs set to keep its offices open to allow citizens to apply for identity documents.
