IEC ready to 'administer the election on the 1st Wednesday in November' 2026

While a date for the local government elections has not been set yet, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it's preparing to be ready by the first Wednesday of November next year.

According to the IEC, the next local elections can be held between 2 November 2026 and 30 January 2027.

The IEC held a media briefing in Centurion on Tuesday to update the public on its election preparedness.

COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has the sole prerogative of announcing the date for the local government elections.

He does this in consultation with the IEC, taking into account a number of factors, including school exams, the festive period and weather patterns.

IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said that the commission was preparing for every possible scenario.

"Its role is to stand ready at the first day on which an election may be called because if we do not stand ready on that day, we are invariably taking away the decision-making from the minister. So, we stand ready to administer the election on the first Wednesday in November, assuming the elections will be in November."

Sheburi said the IEC doesn’t have any indication of when the COGTA minister plans to announce the election date.