Pretoria:The Electoral Commission (IEC) has outlined the steps remaining to finalize the 2026 Local Government Elections, including the publication of the final list of elected councillors in the Government Gazette and the convening of inaugural municipal council sittings.
According to South African Government News Agency, the announcement of the 2026 Local Government Elections results on Sunday, 8 November 2026, initiated several key activities necessary to conclude the election cycle. These activities include the gazetting of the names of councillors and planning for the inaugural municipal council meetings.
The Local Government Municipal Structures Act mandates that municipal managers convene the first meeting of their respective councils within 14 days after councillors are declared elected. Before publishing the names, the IEC must finalize processes related to party candidate lists and candidates assigned to multiple seats.
On Monday, 9 November 2026, the IEC notified parties that won more seats than nominated PR candidates, allowing until Wednesday, 11 November, at 17h00 to supplement their lists. The IEC clarified that the opportunity was to make up shortfalls, not alter lists or replace candidates. Failure to supplement lists could result in forfeiting seats if it prevents achieving a quorum.
The IEC also requires parties to decide on candidates assigned to multiple seats, with provisions applicable to independent candidates with potential multiple ward seats. Failure to make a decision results in candidate deletion from the list, potentially triggering a by-election.
The final list of elected councillors will be published in the Government Gazette after these processes are completed.
In the event of equal votes in ward contests, outcomes are determined by lot. This method resolved four recent ward contests in Mnquma, Maluti A Phofung, Ba-Phalaborwa, and Steve Tshwete municipalities.
The 2026 elections offer 10,526 seats, divided between 8,825 local council seats and 1,701 district council seats. The IEC confirmed that 707 district council seats were filled via district proportional representation, with the remaining 994 seats to be filled by local councillors electing representatives among themselves.
The IEC emphasized the importance of elected representatives and political parties adhering to the prescribed deadlines to ensure the timely constitution of new municipal councils.
