Public sector 1

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is increasingly turning to technology to streamline operations and strengthen efficiency as it prepares for the 2026 local government elections. South Africa is gearing up for its 2026 municipal elections, when voters across all nine provinces will elect councils for district, metropolitan and local municipalities. The race is expected to be highly competitive, with 508 political parties registered to take part and 4 488 voting districts set up nationwide.

According to the IEC, 27.67 million citizens were registered to vote as of December 2025, with the largest voter segment aged between 30 and 39 years old. Women make up 55% of the registered electorate, highlighting their growing influence in the country’s political landscape. The upcoming polls will also be the first local elections held since the formation of the Government of National Unity in 2024. South Africa’s fifth term of local government is set to conclude on 1 November 2026, marking the end of a five-year municipal cycle. The municipal elections are scheduled to take place on 4 November 2026. The IEC received a budget of R1.116 billion to run the local government elections.