IEC in talks with Home Affairs to determine local govt elections date, says CEO Mamabolo
In the meantime, the IEC has mapped out its preparations to be ready at the earliest expected date of 2 November 2026.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo briefs the media at Results Operations Centre in Midrand on 30 May 2024, on progress made in vote counting across country. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said discussions have begun with the Home Affairs Minister to determine a date for the next local government elections.
However, CEO Sy Mamabolo said a final decision is outside the commission's purview, and no date has yet been decided.
In the meantime, the IEC has mapped out its preparations to be ready at the earliest expected date of 2 November 2026.
It is, however, possible and permissible by law that the election is only held in early 2027.
On Wednesday, the IEC met with civil society groups and political parties in Cape Town as the Western Cape chapter prepares for the next polls.
Mamabolo said while the national voters’ roll of over 27 million is the highest ever reached, the commission is being unfairly criticised for not boosting the number of registered voters even further.
“The IEC is an independent, non-partisan body. So, its voter education message must be circumscribed within those parameters.”
With just under 85% of eligible voters on the roll, Mamabolo said it’s a noble aim to want to raise that to 90%.
But he said the IEC can’t be responsible for encouraging more people to vote.
“It’s a party-political matter. The IEC can’t be entering that space, otherwise it will be violating its constitutional character as independent and impartial.”
He said the IEC is currently in talks with the National Treasury over whether it can afford to hold one or two registration drives ahead of the next polls.