Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, on Friday gazetted the proclamation of the 2026 Local Government Elections date.
“In terms of section 24(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998), I, Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, hereby call an election of all municipal councils and set 04 November 2026 as the date for such an election,” the Minister said in the Government Gazette dated 7 August 2026.
In terms of Section 159 of the Constitution, read together with the Municipal Structures Act, the Minister of CoGTA is responsible for proclaiming the date of local government elections, which must be held within 90 days after the expiry of a five-year municipal term.
Earlier in the week, the Minister urged all eligible South Africans to register and verify their voter registration details before the proclamation of the 2026 Local Government Elections date on 7 August 2026.
The proclamation and gazetting of the election date sees the closure of the voters’ roll for the 2026 elections.
The gazette can be accessed here: https://www.cogta.gov.za/cgta_2016/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Government-Gazette.pdf
The gazetting of the election date follows a successful voter registration weekend held on 1 and 2 August 2026, during which approximately 1.7 million citizens interacted with the Electoral Commission (IEC). Of these, 291 806 registered as first-time voters, while more than 1.5 million voters updated or confirmed their registration details.
At the time, the Minister reminded voters that, in local government elections, citizens may only vote in the ward where they are registered.
He encouraged voters to make use of the IEC’s Online Voter Registration Portal and voter verification services to confirm their registration status.
The gazette comes as the Electoral Commission updated the nation on the key dates in the election timetable as the country marches towards the 4 November polls. This is as several hours are left before the midnight deadline for South Africans to register or update their details online ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
In a post on social media platform X, on Thursday, the Commission said: “Your vote starts with registration. Proclamation on 7 August [at] midnight. Online registration closes then.”
Voters who were unable to visit a registration station during the weekend can register or update their details through the IEC’s Online Voter Registration portal before the registration period closes.
The registration portal can be accessed on: https://registertovote.elections.org.za
Voters can also register via WhatsApp. To use the service, voters can WhatsApp “Hi” to 0600 88 0000. The platform uses secure identity verification, including one-time password authentication, ID document uploads, address verification, and voting-station confirmation.
Citizens can register from the age of 16, although only those who are 18 or older are eligible to vote.
The IEC has also stressed the importance of ensuring that registration details are correct, particularly for voters who have moved.
In local government elections, voters must vote at the voting station where they are registered, meaning those who have changed addresses should update their details before the deadline.
Voters can check their registration status by SMSing “myID” followed by their ID number to 32810.
The IEC’s contact centre, 0800 11 8000, is also available to assist with registration queries. -SAnews.gov.za
