South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections will take place on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, following the official proclamation of the election date by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa.
Hlabisa gazetted the proclamation on Friday, 7 August 2026, formally calling elections for all municipal councils across the country.
“In terms of section 24(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998), I, Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, hereby call an election of all municipal councils and set 04 November 2026 as the date for such an election,” the Minister stated in the Government Gazette.
The proclamation follows constitutional and legislative requirements governing the timing of municipal elections. In terms of Section 159 of the Constitution, read with the Municipal Structures Act, local government elections must be held within 90 days after the expiry of a municipal council’s five-year term.
Voters’ roll now officially closed
The proclamation of the election date also marks the closure of the voters’ roll for the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The development follows a voter registration weekend held on 1 and 2 August, during which approximately 1.7 million citizens interacted with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
According to CoGTA, 291,806 people registered as first-time voters, while more than 1.5 million voters updated or confirmed their registration details.
Ahead of the proclamation, Hlabisa urged eligible South Africans to ensure that their voter registration details were correct.
The Minister also reminded voters that, unlike national and provincial elections, local government elections require voters to cast their ballots in the ward where they are registered.
With the election date now officially gazetted, the IEC will proceed with the implementation of the election timetable leading up to the 4 November polls.
The election will determine the composition of municipal councils across South Africa and will have a direct impact on local governance and service delivery in communities.
The proclamation comes as the country enters the next phase of preparations for the 2026 municipal elections, with political parties, independent candidates and communities expected to intensify their activities ahead of polling day.
Eligible voters are encouraged to continue using the IEC’s voter verification services to confirm their registration information and ensure they know where they are registered to vote.
The 2026 Local Government Elections will be held on 4 November 2026.
