Lesedi FM | IEC LGE 2026 Voter Education

Discover everything you need to know about special votes in South African elections in this informative voter education episode. Learn who qualifies for a special vote, including the distinction between home visits for registered voters unable to travel due to illness, physical disability, or pregnancy, and early voting station visits for essential workers and students

In this voter education episode produced in partnership with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), listeners gain vital insights into the candidate and voter code of conduct alongside essential guidelines for upcoming elections

In this voter education episode produced in partnership with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), listeners gain vital insights into the candidate and voter code of conduct alongside essential guidelines for upcoming elections

If you're not on the voters' roll, you can't vote. This episode, produced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in partnership with SABC Education, covers what registration actually requires: who's eligible, which identification the Department of Home Affairs accepts, the green barcoded book, the smart ID card, or a valid temporary identity certificate, and how to get registered, in person or online. Registration is the first gate. Everything else about election day depends on clearing it. Changed address recently? Update your registration, or you could end up at the wrong polling station on election day. Boundaries shift too, and an old registration can put you in the wrong voting district without you knowing it. We also cover how to check your registration status by SMS or on the official website, plus what's coming with the next round of registration weekends. Catch this episode, and the rest of the series, on SABC+ or the official website.

If you're not on the voters' roll, you can't vote. This episode, produced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in partnership with SABC Education, covers what registration actually requires: who's eligible, which identification the Department of Home Affairs accepts, the green barcoded book, the smart ID card, or a valid temporary identity certificate, and how to get registered, in person or online. Registration is the first gate. Everything else about election day depends on clearing it. Changed address recently? Update your registration, or you could end up at the wrong polling station on election day. Boundaries shift too, and an old registration can put you in the wrong voting district without you knowing it. We also cover how to check your registration status by SMS or on the official website, plus what's coming with the next round of registration weekends. Catch this episode, and the rest of the series, on SABC+ or the official website.

South Africa hasn't always had an independent body running its elections. For decades, government ran the process itself. That history is the reason the IEC exists at all. This is the first episode in our civic education series, and it's about the Independent Electoral Commission, one of South Africa's Chapter 9 institutions set up to protect the country's constitutional democracy. We trace the shift from government-run elections to an independent commission, and what that change actually means for how votes are managed, counted, and trusted. You'll hear about the IEC's mandate, how its independence works in practice, and the specific steps it takes to keep political parties and government at arm's length. No interference. No shortcuts. We also cover voter registration, and why it's one of the most direct ways citizens shape how strong our democracy is, particularly with local government elections on the horizon. First time voter or tenth time voter, the IEC is the institution making sure your vote actually counts. Listen in to find out how.

This episode explores the essential role of youth civic engagement and voter education in democratic processes. Led by a provincial coordinator, the discussion highlights the electoral Code of Conduct and its vital significance during local government elections, emphasizing political awareness, community dialogue, and responsible behavior

Discover the essential rules that ensure elections remain free, fair, and credible. This podcast episode breaks down the Electoral Code of Conduct, highlighting the key responsibilities and prohibited behaviors for political candidates, party supporters, and everyday voters. Listeners will learn about what is permitted inside and outside polling stations, the strict protections surrounding the secrecy of the ballot, and how to report election violations, including the spreading of deliberate misinformation. Tune in to understand the serious penalties for breaches and find out how you can make an informed choice to make your voice heard

What does it actually mean for an election to be both "free" and "fair"? In this episode, the host sits down with the Electoral Commission's (IEC) Provincial Electoral Officer to break down the robust legal, structural, and transparent safeguards that ensure every citizen's vote is protected and counted.

Empower your mind and raise your voice. This educational podcast series explores the power of the youth in securing the mandate of free and fair elections

 Listeners will get a clear look at the electoral timeline, starting from the official proclamation of the election date, and learn how political parties and independent candidates can navigate the online candidate nomination system to streamline their submissions. The episode explains the critical differences between metro, local, and district municipalities, details the financial deposit requirements for contesting, and outlines the constitutionally mandated disqualification criteria for candidates

This episode focuses on empowering young citizens to take charge of their future through voter registration for the 2026 Local Government Elections. The discussion emphasizes the power of civic participation and provides practical steps on how to register, check registration details, and access key voter resources through the official portal at www.elections.org.za

Whether you are a first-time voter, have recently moved, or were affected by municipal ward boundary changes, this episode will help you verify your status, locate your correct voting station, and transition from the sidelines to the ballot box. Don't miss the deadline—listen in and make sure your voice is heard

Get ready for the upcoming 2026 elections with this essential guide on voter registration. This episode covers the convenient ways you can register to vote using digital online platforms or by contacting the support call center. We also break down the critical identification documents you need to have ready, including your smart ID card or ID book. Learn how to access these services on the web and social media, and find out how to make your voice count

Discover how to register or update your details online completely data-free, understand the strict legal requirements of ward-based voting, and find out how to apply for special votes (including home visits for the elderly or differently-abled). Whether you're a first-time voter, a student living away from home, or a migrant worker, this episode is packed with essential, easy-to-follow steps to ensure you are registered, verified, and ready to vote!

Most people know they can vote in national elections from abroad. Local government elections work differently — you need to be registered at a voting station in the area where you actually live. This series, produced with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), makes that distinction clear. Each episode covers the voter registration weekend and what listeners need to do before it closes. The IEC's digital tools — the website, SMS, and WhatsApp — mean most people can check or update their details without visiting a centre in person. The youth focus runs through every conversation. Local government is the election with the most direct impact on daily life: water, roads, electricity, housing. Not registering is still a choice — just one that hands five years of decisions to whoever did show up. Check your name on the voters' roll. Update your address if you've moved. Then go vote

Local government decides whether your taps run and your bins get collected. On 4 November 2026, South Africans vote in the Local Government and Municipal Elections, and this episode is about making sure your vote actually has a say in any of that. We talk to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) about how voter registration really works. The detail that trips people up most: you have to register and vote in the area where you live, not wherever happens to be convenient. On the day, you'll get three ballot papers, not one: ward, local municipality, and district. We also explain the difference between voting for a political party's candidate and voting for an independent running under their own name. This one's especially for young voters navigating the process for the first time, and for anyone who's wondered if local elections actually matter. They decide who runs your council, and who answers when something breaks down the street. Tune in before 4 November.

The IEC runs South Africa's elections. As a Chapter 9 institution, it operates independently of government, with a constitutional mandate to deliver elections that are free, fair, and actually trusted. In this episode, we get into how the Commission works day to day: registering voters, maintaining the national voters' roll, and running civic education programmes like this one. Integrity and impartiality aren't just words on a mandate, they're the rules the IEC has to live by every election cycle. We also get into the youth vote, not the slogan version, but the real question: what changes when young South Africans register, show up, and use that vote to shape decisions that affect them directly. One vote carries the same weight as any other, whether it's cast in a metro or a small town. We talk through what that means day to day, and the steps you can take right now to check your registration before the next election.

A lot of South Africans assume voter registration means a trip to a government office. This series, produced with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), addresses that directly. You can register, check your status, or update your details through an online platform, a mobile app, or an SMS — no queue required. Each episode unpacks how these tools work and takes questions from listeners navigating the process in real time. One point that runs through every conversation: your residential address must be accurate. Not as a bureaucratic requirement. It determines your ward and voting district, which means an outdated address puts you in the wrong place on the voters' roll. The series also returns to June 16 — not as ceremony, but as a practical argument. The generation that fought for that day didn't have registration tools in their pocket. This generation does. The voter registration weekend is the next step. Go verify your details.

Who switches the lights back on when there's a fault? Who's meant to fix the road outside your house? That's your municipality's job, and local government elections decide who runs it. This episode is about how local and municipal elections actually work, and why the result shows up in your life faster than any national vote does. Your vote buys you a say in who answers for water, electricity, and infrastructure in your own area. The ballot papers look different too, depending on whether you live in a local municipality or a metro. There are two routes onto your council: ward councillors and proportional representation councillors, with independents running in the ward system too. We also cover the legal bar a citizen has to clear to stand for their own community, and how the IEC keeps the count transparent. A joint production from SABC Education and the Electoral Commission (IEC), made so you walk into the voting station knowing what you're choosing and why. Wake up and go out to vote!

  This is the first episode in our civic education series, and it's about the Independent Electoral Commission, one of South Africa's Chapter 9 institutions set up to protect the country's constitutional democracy. We trace the shift from government-run elections to an independent commission, and what that change actually means for how votes are managed, counted, and trusted. You'll hear about the IEC's mandate, how its independence works in practice, and the specific steps it takes to keep political parties and government at arm's length. No interference. No shortcuts. We also cover voter registration, and why it's one of the most direct ways citizens shape how strong our democracy is, particularly with local government elections on the horizon. First time voter or tenth time voter, the IEC is the institution making sure your vote actually counts. Listen in to find out how.

Local government decides whether your taps run and your bins get collected. On 4 November 2026, South Africans vote in the Local Government and Municipal Elections, and this episode is about making sure your vote actually has a say in any of that. We talk to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) about how voter registration really works. The detail that trips people up most: you have to register and vote in the area where you live, not wherever happens to be convenient. On the day, you'll get three ballot papers, not one: ward, local municipality, and district. We also explain the difference between voting for a political party's candidate and voting for an independent running under their own name. This one's especially for young voters navigating the process for the first time, and for anyone who's wondered if local elections actually matter. They decide who runs your council, and who answers when something breaks down the street. Tune in before 4 November.

If you're not on the voters' roll, you can't vote. This episode, produced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in partnership with SABC Education, covers what registration actually requires: who's eligible, which identification the Department of Home Affairs accepts, the green barcoded book, the smart ID card, or a valid temporary identity certificate, and how to get registered, in person or online. Registration is the first gate. Everything else about election day depends on clearing it. Changed address recently? Update your registration, or you could end up at the wrong polling station on election day. Boundaries shift too, and an old registration can put you in the wrong voting district without you knowing it. We also cover how to check your registration status by SMS or on the official website, plus what's coming with the next round of registration weekends. Catch this episode, and the rest of the series, on SABC+ or the official website.

You can register to vote two years before you're old enough to cast one. This episode of Youth Ke Yona, produced by SABC Education with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), is about getting young South Africans ready for the 2026 local government elections. Registration opens at 16, so you can be set the moment you turn 18. We walk through which ID counts (the green barcoded book, the smart ID card, or a valid temporary identity certificate) and how to check your registration status through the SMS service or online. Moved recently? Boundaries changed in your area? This episode covers how to update your details so you're linked to the correct voting district. Young people make up a large share of South Africa's population, and local government, from the bins to the budget, runs on whether that group turns up to vote. Tune in for the practical steps. Then go register.