KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says the province is ready for the upcoming Local Government Elections, with 111 political parties in the province participating in the elections on 4 November 2026.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I can safely say that it is all systems go for the November Local Government Elections in the province,” Ntuli said.
The Premier used the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Electoral Code of Conduct signing and ballot draw ceremony on Tuesday, to provide an update on KwaZulu-Natal’s preparations for the elections, declaring that the province is ready for the November polls.
He reported that 26 390 ward and proportional representation candidates have registered, together with 101 independent candidates, who will contest 2 166 available seats.
The Premier also noted that 790 candidates have been disqualified. The province has recorded approximately six million voters registered to vote in KwaZulu-Natal in the upcoming elections.
Ntuli assured that law-enforcement authorities are working around the clock to help ensure safe, free and fair elections before, during and after the polls.
Over 900 wards to be contested
The Premier also reported that the Municipal Demarcation Board has concluded the ward delimitation process for the 2026 elections, with 921 wards in the province contesting, an increase from 901 in the 2021 municipal elections.
The delimitation process followed consultation and awareness initiatives involving councillors, organised local government, traditional and Khoisan leaders, political parties, community organisations and members of the public.
The Premier said all ward delimitation promulgations have been finalised and incorporated into the relevant Section 12 Notices, while voting district alignments have also been completed.
Infrastructure under scrutiny
Ntuli said intergovernmental structures are being used to assess and prepare voting-station infrastructure across the province.
District Development Model Technical Forums are focusing on critical requirements including electricity, water, sanitation, road access, transport risks and disaster contingencies.
A Provincial Local Government Elections Steering Committee, jointly chaired by the Electoral Commission and Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), is overseeing preparations. A dedicated Voting Station Infrastructure Task Team is working with municipal technical units and departments including Transport, Public Works and Education, as well as Eskom and Telkom.
“These preparations form part of a comprehensive Local Government Election Plan aimed at ensuring municipal readiness before, during and after the elections, strengthening intergovernmental coordination and promoting public confidence in the local government electoral process,” the Premier explained.
Youth participation
He also highlighted initiatives aimed at encouraging youth participation in the democratic process.
He said COGTA and the Electoral Commission Youth Electoral Mobilisation Programme targeted young people between the ages of 18 and 35, particularly students at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Activities include campus mobilisation, voter education, mobile registration services, town hall engagements, and programmes involving student representative councils.
These initiatives reached students at institutions including the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban University of Technology, University of Zululand, Mangosuthu University of Technology and TVET colleges across the province.
“Government is also intensifying election communication through radio, outdoor advertising, social media and direct communication platforms, to ensure that communities receive accessible and timely information.”
Planning
Ntuli emphasised that planning is not limited to voting day.
He said COGTA will activate a Provincial Nerve Centre on election day, with officials deployed through district coordinating teams.
The Electoral Commission has secured the Durban ICC as the Results Operation Centre, which will remain operational until election results are confirmed.
Preparations are also underway for the first meetings of newly constituted municipal councils after the elections.
Ntuli said senior municipal managers have undergone capacity-building sessions, while further regional workshops are planned to support municipal managers, corporate services directors, senior officials, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Electoral Commission, and local government specialists.
The Provincial Government and SALGA KZN also planned a three-day induction programme for newly elected councillors, followed by a skills audit aimed at identifying areas requiring further capacity development. – SAnews.gov.za
