Gail Smith

7 September 2026

South Africa’s 2026 local government elections are still weeks away, but one outcome is already clear: voters will face the most crowded municipal ballot in the country’s democratic history, when they go to the polls in eight weeks’ time on 4 November 2026.

More than 142,000 candidates have submitted nominations to contest 10,526 council seats nationwide, a dramatic increase from the approximately 99,000 nominations received ahead of the 2021 local elections.

The surge – unprecedented in the history of the country’s democracy - reflects the realisation that local government remains the level of government most capable of influencing the lived reality of daily life.

A record number of political parties – 546 in total -  will contest the election.  In Johannesburg alone,  80 political parties will compete for seats, followed by the City of Tshwane with 72 parties, eThekwini with 70, Ekurhuleni with 69 and the City of Cape Town with 55. 

Several other municipalities also feature crowded contests. Emfuleni will have 43 parties on the ballot, while Polokwane, Rustenburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Capricorn District each have 38 parties contesting. 

The 142,072 candidates nominated for 10,526 council seats across the country range from incumbent councillors, seasoned politicians, activists, businesspeople, community organizers and political newcomers seeking to capitalize on voter frustration over service delivery failures, infrastructure decay and persistent governance challenges.

According to the IEC, the 2026 nominations amount to an increase of approximately 43 percent, with just the 99,000 nominations received during the 2021 local government elections.

The dramatic increase candidates underscores that municipal government, once viewed as secondary to national politics, has become the new frontline of politics, as record numbers of parties battle to control the institutions responsible for basic services, infrastructure and local development.

While women have increased their presence in local politics over recent years, men continue to dominate the electoral field. Overall, men account for nearly two-thirds of all nominations, while women represent approximately 38 percent of candidates. 

The disparity is most pronounced in ward contests, where direct competition for local constituencies remains heavily male dominated. According to the commission, 65 percent of ward candidates are men and 35 percent are women. The picture is somewhat more balanced on proportional representation lists, where women account for 44 percent of nominees compared with 56 percent for men. 

The figures highlight both progress and persistent challenges. Political parties have increased women’s participation through proportional representation systems, yet women remain significantly underrepresented in direct ward contests.

The immediate task of the Electoral Commission now is to review the submissions for compliance with the legislative requirements, said Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepya.

Outlining the next steps in determining which parties and candidates will appear on the election ballots, Moepya stated that parties and candidates will be notified of any nomination irregularities on 9 September. The IEC will publish the final list of candidates who have met all legal requirements on 16 September. Candidate certificates are scheduled to be issued on 25 September, while applications for special voting will open on 21 September.

Never before have so many South Africans sought municipal office at the same time, suggesting that the 2026 local government elections are shaping up to be historic and one of the most fiercely contested elections ever held. As campaigning begins in earnest, the record number of political parties and nominations suggest a nation intensely alive to the power and responsibility given to those who will govern its communities over the next five years.