Record 142 072 candidates to contest 2026 local Elections, says IEC: Here’s the full breakdown
Picture: The Citizen As the country prepares for the highly anticipated local government elections in November 2026, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says 142 072 candidates were nominated to contest 10 526 council seats when the statutory nomination window closed at 5pm on Friday, 28 August 2026.
Political contestation: South Africa currently has 732 registered political parties, of which 546 will contest the 2026 Local Government Elections – a national participation rate of 75%.
Breakdown by registration level: National: 345 registered; 227 contesting (66%) Provincial: 36 registered; 33 contesting (92%) Metropolitan: 61 registered; 49 contesting (80%) District: 290 registered; 237 contesting (82%) “This reflects a vibrant and competitive political environment,” the Commission said.
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