The countdown to South Africa’s 2026 local government elections has begun. With the municipal council term in South Africa expiring on 1 November 2026, the preparations for the next general elections are underway. On 10 March 2026, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that voter registration for the 2026 local government elections will take place from 20 to 21 June 2026. According to the IEC, more than 200 000 new voters have registered on the online registration portal since November 2025. The IEC also indicated that most of the new registrations are younger voters. In South Africa you must be 16 years to register, but you can only vote from the age of 18. The IEC reminds all eligible South Africans to register to vote where they ordinarily reside.

Download Mbalo Brief – March 2026