IEC reveals R2.6bn budget to administer upcoming local govt elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has budgeted about R2.6 billion to administer the upcoming local government elections.

The figure was revealed at a media briefing in Centurion on Tuesday, where the commission outlined its readiness for the municipal polls.

The IEC is awaiting the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister to announce the official date of the elections despite preparations being underway.

The IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, said they will make do with the available funds.

“We have a fair budget to run the elections. If we exclude our administrative expenses, we are looking at a R2.6 billion budget to do the elections. So, we really have been engaging hard with Treasury, and they have tried to meet us and enabled us to conduct a credible electro process.”

LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS DATE

The government is still considering all possible dates for the upcoming local government elections.

The IEC further announced that voter registration weekend for the upcoming elections will take place on the 20th and 21st of June 2026.

However, the commission said an early announcement of the election date would make preparation easier.

There has been much debate about the possible date for the upcoming local government elections, with some political parties saying certain dates would not be ideal.

The law requires that municipal elections be held within 90 days after the expiry of the term of municipal councils.

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This means the local government elections must take place between November 2026 and the end of January 2027.

However, concerns have been raised that in November, many young people are focused on school exams, while in December, many travel to different holiday destinations, and January is also not considered ideal.

Mamabolo said the COGTA Minister must carefully apply his mind.

“The minister has to exercise his mind and find the less disruptive date within those difficulties that are outlined.”

He said the IEC has already begun preparing for the local government elections.