The Electoral Commission will today publish a Government Gazette notice inviting political parties, independent candidates and all interested stakeholders to comment on the proposed deposit amount for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.
By law, registered political parties and independent candidates intending to contest elections must pay deposits.
The purpose of the deposit is to confirm a contestant’s intention to participate in the election and to create certainty on who the contestants in an election are, the Commission said in a statement.
“Deposits are refundable to contestants who obtain a seat in the applicable Proportional Representation election, or who obtain at least 10% of the valid votes cast in the applicable ward election. If a contestant loses, the deposit is not refundable and is paid into the National Revenue Fund,” the Commission said.
The amount of the deposit to be paid in terms of Section 14(1)(b) of the Act is, in respect of each separate list submitted by a party is:
• R4 700 in an election in a metropolitan municipality.
• R2 800 in an election in a local municipality with wards.
• R1 800 in an election in a local municipality without wards and in an election in a district municipality.
The Electoral Commission intends increasing the deposit as prescribed in Item 11(1) of the Municipal Electoral Regulations as follows:
“(1) The amount of the deposit referred to in section 17(2)(d) of the Act, is R1 800.00 in respect of an independent ward candidate and for a ward candidate nominated by a party who is not contesting the election of the relevant municipal council by way of a party list.
Representations or comment on the proposed election deposits may be emailed to Mr Kgosietsile Tshoke at deposits@elections.org.za or delivered to Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157.
The closing date for the submission of comments is Friday, 8 May 2026.
The Commission emphasised that it had not yet decided on the election deposit amounts for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.
It will review feedback and comments before making a final decision. – SAnews.gov.za
