The Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that an unprecedented 136 790 candidates have met the statutory requirements to contest South Africa’s local government elections, scheduled for 4 November 2026.
“Out of these 136 790 candidates, 98 219 are nominated by parties to represent wards and 38 571 to represent parties in the Proportional Representation (PR) election. A total of 621 candidates are independents nominated to represent wards,” the IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo told a media briefing on Wednesday in Pretoria.
The candidates will contest seats across the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities.
Mamabolo said the number is significantly higher than the 95 427 certified candidates recorded in the 2021 municipal elections, despite the number of available seats increasing only marginally from 10 478 in 2021 to 10 526 in 2026.
“The candidate nomination process closed on 28 August 2026 at 5pm, with candidates able to submit their documents either in person at Electoral Commission offices or through the Online Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.
Mamabolo said the online submissions accounted for 84% of nominations, while 16% were submitted manually.
“On 4 September 2026, the Commission issued notices to 221 parties and independent candidates to submit additional details in respect of 1 280 nominated candidates, who were given until 7 September 2026 to provide identification documents and completed acceptance-of-nomination forms.
“On 9 September 2026, the Commission issued notices to parties and independent candidates in relation to 550 candidates who had either been nominated as independent candidates and again by a party, or who had been nominated by more than one party,” Mamabolo said.
The IEC disqualified 5 096 candidates after the conclusion of the statutory reviews, including confirmation that all contestants had paid the applicable deposits, and that all candidates were properly nominated.
The Commission will later today publish the list of all candidates and political parties that will contest the elections on 4 November 2026. – SAnews.gov.za
