South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Wednesday formally launched the 2026 local government elections campaign, kicking off a nationwide mass awareness drive ahead of the 4 November polls.
The launch in Johannesburg marks the official start of preparations for the sixth local government elections since the advent of democracy, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation of the election date earlier this month.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the launch signalled that planning had moved into full execution mode, with the commission set to roll out a multimedia campaign across television, radio, digital platforms and social media to reach voters in all communities.
He said the IEC has intensified voter‑education efforts ahead of the national registration weekend scheduled for 20 and 21 June, when nearly 24,000 registration stations across 4,488 municipal wards will open for citizens to register or update their details.
“The Commission has deployed over 800 Municipal Outreach Coordinators, including persons with disabilities, across the country to drive voter education and awareness, reinforcing inclusive participation ahead of the elections,” the official said.
Since January, the commission has conducted more than 62,000 community events and completed a door‑to‑door communication campaign in 212 of the country’s 214 municipalities.
These efforts included informing residents about changes to ward boundaries following the Municipal Demarcation Board’s recent delimitation process.
Youth‑focused initiatives have also gained traction, with the Tertiary Institutions Campaign registering more than 45,000 students and the Schools Democracy Programme encouraging pre‑registration among eligible learners.
The IEC said its online registration portal continues to strengthen the accuracy of the voters’ roll, with 376,140 new registrations recorded between January and May—many of them young voters.
The total number of registered voters now stands at 27.9 million, surpassing the figure recorded during the 2024 general elections despite monthly attrition due to mortality.
Mamabolo said the Commission would soon release a draft Code of Conduct on Misinformation for public comment, aimed at safeguarding information integrity during the election period.
He said the Department of Home Affairs would ensure its offices remain open nationwide to issue identity documents required for registration.
JN/APA