Local Government Elections 2026

Goitseone Moremi o buisana le moeteledipele wa ba lekoko la APC, Themba Godi malebana le go re Ma-Coucillor mo di-Ward ba neelwe matlole a go neela baagi ditirelo. 

Goitseone Moremi o buisana le Moitseanape wa go tsamaisiwa ga merero ya di-masepala, Dr Bernard Sebake ka morero o tshitshingwana ke ba lekoko la APC.  

 The demand for housing continues to grow as more people move to urban areas in search of work and opportunity. But for many, living closer to economic hubs is becoming increasingly unaffordable. And while Temporary Relocation Areas are meant to provide short-term relief, in some cases, residents have spent years waiting for permanent homes. Shamiela Fisher filed this report.

More than 17-thousand candidates will contest the upcoming local government election in Limpopo. The IEC says 126 political parties and 106 independent candidates will compete. Twenty political parties that are contesting in all municipalities signed the Electoral Code of Conduct in Polokwane. The IEC says the high number of political parties and independent candidates reflects the level of interest in the elections. Xiviko xi lulamisiwile hi muteki wa mahungu ya SABC,Rendani Raliphaswa, xi tisiwa ka wena hi muhumelerisi, Amukelo Ngobeni  

Collins Chabane based independent candidate Ntsako Vivian Mahlaule is set to contest Ward 03, Tiyani village in the 2026 Local Government Elections, putting her name forward as an independent voice for residents of the ward. Mahluele says she is ready to serve the people of Ward 03 and is committed to engaging with residents and addressing issues affecting the community. Her candidacy adds an independent option to the ballot as voters prepare to make their choice in the upcoming local government elections.  Ernest Ntimbane u burisane na Ntsako Vivian Mahlaule

FOCUS: The Presenter Interviews Yuza Doctor Sithole, ABOUT HIS WARD 8 CANDIDATE COUNCILLORSHIP UNDER GREATER GIYANI MUNICIPALITY..... INTRO: As South Africa heads towards the 2026 Local Government Elections, voters are not only choosing between established political parties. For the first time in local government elections, independent candidates are also entering the contest, offering voters an alternative to party-based politics. Contestant have to convince voters that they can represent community interests without the structures, resources and political machinery of a party. At the same time, they must demonstrate that they have a clear programme for addressing the everyday challenges facing residents from water and roads to jobs, housing, service delivery and accountability. So, what does an independent candidate bring to the table, and how would they govern if elected? We speak to Yuza Doctor Sithole, an independent candidate for Ward 8 ,Dzingi dzingi, Bode na Maswanganyi Greater Giyani  municipality.  tani hi leswi tiko ra afrika dzonga ri langutelaka hlawulo wa Mfumu wa Miganga va vhoti avanga hlawula eka mavandla yati polotiki tsena, Vayimela ku langwa voti yomela va nghenele halwulo wa mfumu wa mignga. ku languta eka muyimela ku langwa woti yimela eka Ward 8 eka masipala wa Greater Giyani. leswi katsaka miganga ya Dzingi-dzingi, Bode na Maswanganyi emoyeni hi amukela Yuza Doctor Sithole........

FOCUS: THE PRESRNTER INTERVIEWSOlivers Ngobeni, about his Ward 23 Candidate Councillorship FOR WARD 23 CANDIDATE UNDER GREATER GIYANI MUNICIPALITY.....  INTRO: As South Africa heads towards the 2026 Local Government Elections, voters are not only choosing between established political parties. For the first time in local government elections, independent candidates are also entering the contest, offering voters an alternative to party-based politics. Contestant have to convince voters that they can represent community interests without the structures, resources and political machinery of a party. At the same time, they must demonstrate that they have a clear programme for addressing the everyday challenges facing residents from water and roads to jobs, housing, service delivery and accountability. So, what does an independent candidate bring to the table, and how would they govern if elected? We speak to Olivers Ngobeni, an independent candidate for Ward 23, Bendle, Guwela, Khayi, Mushiyani and Savulani villages under Greater Giyani municipality.......... 

Refile Pkg ANC INTRO: The ANC has put crime and gender based violence at the forefront as it ramps up its campaign in eThekwini. Party President Cyril Ramaphosa says the recent Kwa Makhutha mass shooting underscores the urgent need to tackle violent crime. Ramaphosa was speaking during an ANC election campaign in Mpumalanga township, west of Durban. He is on a two-day mobilization drive across eThekwini, taking the party's message directly to voters through door-to-door visits. Celumusa Zulu compiled and Mixo Mashimbye reports.....

FOCUS: The Presenter Interviews Mackson Soyaphi Mhangwane, about the councillor candidate wardship for Ward 14 in Giyani in Limpopo....  INTRO: Tani hi leswi ka ha kongomiwaka eka siku ra raku nhlawula eka nhlawulo wa ti masipala lembe leri, hi ya emahlweni hi ku tisela vayimela kulanghiwa eka swivandla swa vu khanselara eka ti ward xikanwe na swivandla swa vu meyara eka ti masipala. Namutlha hi ta languta eka eka WARD 14 ehansi ka masipala wa Greater Giyani eLimpopo. Mackson Soyaphi Mhangwane i muyimela kulanghiwa wa ku ti yimela hiyexe eka xivandla xa vu khanselara eka WARD 14 leyi hlanganisaka matiko ya xikukwana na makoxa, laha sweswi hi burisanaka na yena Mackson Soyaphi Mhangwane hi ndlela leyi........  

DA CAMPAIGN (For All AM Shows -- Own Translation)   FOCUS: Ntebo Mokobo (Politics: 25-09-26) DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the people of Johannesburg will see what integrity looks like in government and what living in a working city feels like when Helen Zille becomes the city mayor after the November elections. INTRO: DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the people of Johannesburg will see what integrity looks like in government and what living in a working city feels like when Helen Zille becomes the city mayor after the November elections. He was speaking during his party's -- Working for All Tour at the Victoria Yards Hall in downtown Johannesburg on Thursday. This is part of the DA's election campaign strategy for the 2026 local polls. Our Politics Reporter Ntebo Mokobo was there and filed this report by Muhluri Chabalala... 

APC -JHB INTRO:  African People's Convention leader, Themba Godi, has called for a ward-based budgeting system as a solution to challenges of service delivery at municipalities. With the local government elections drawing closer, the APC took its election campaign to Emandleni on the East Rand. The party has temporarily partnered with residents to resurface the main road, to improve mobility in the area. A few years ago, Emandleni made news due to an outbreak of Cholera in the area. SABC' Politics Reporter, Ntlantla Kgatlhane, compiled the following report by Ntwanano Vuma... 

(FOCUS: NEW YOUTH-LED FORMATIONS ENTER THE ELECTION FRAY TO CHALLENGE THE TRADITIONAL POLITICAL ORDER) INTRO: For millions of young South Africans, politics is closely tied to the reality of finding a job, accessing basic services and having a voice in decisions affecting their lives. With the 2026 Local Government Elections approaching, a new political party is putting young people at the centre of its political offering. Next Generation Government or NGG, describes itself as a youth-led movement, with a 19-year-old, Kwanda Summers Ntombela, as its president. But as young people start to challenge the traditional political order, can a new youth-led formation turn that momentum into meaningful political participation and representation? Our reporter, Musa Mhlongo compiled and Ntsakisi Chauke has more …

Cape Town's mayoral race is heating up with various political parties attempting to unseat the DA in November's Local Government Elections. The Mother City is a study in contrasts... with its world-renowned tourist attractions and affluent suburbs and its sprawling townships and low-income communities, where crime and violence exacerbate the daily challenges faced by residents. These challenges are at the centre of the election campaign as various political parties try to convince Capetonians why they should be leading one of South Africa's leading metros. Shamiela Fisher filed this report...  

The killing of women took the centre stage at the EFF's Western Cape election manifesto launch in Delft, Cape Town. Party leader, Julius Malema, condemned the recent killing of women in Ekurhuleni, describing it as a declaration of war. He has called on communities to help police find those responsible. Mkhokheli Bandla filed this report... 

The newly-registered United Democratic Front Party has unveiled its provincial election manifesto for the Western Cape. It took place in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats at the same venue where the now disbanded UDF was initially launched. Despite issues with the IEC, the party says they are ready to compete in the local government election on November 4th.

The IFP has urged South Africans to trust the party with their vote come the 4 November local government elections. Party Leader Velenkosini Hlabisa did this as he unveiled the IFP's Manifesto to thousands of supporters gathered at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu north of Durban today (20/08). Senior political journalist Busi Bopela reports…

In Cape Town, the GOOD Party and the United Democratic Movement's (UDM) election campaigns ahead of this year's Local Government Elections saw a focus on issues including making the City of Cape Town more affordable for Capetonians and the ongoing scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. Tando Ntunja reports

Applications for special votes for the 2026 Local Government Elections will open on Monday, the 21st of September. The IEC says the application period will close on the 12th of October at 5pm. Special votes are available to registered voters who cannot physically travel to their voting station, as well as essential service workers, media personnel and voters who can reach their voting station but cannot vote there on election day. Meanwhile, the IEC has published the final candidate lists, showing the ANC has no candidates in six municipalities. The Electoral Court has dismissed the ANC's challenge over 181 excluded candidates. The party says it intends to appeal. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo 

The Electoral Commission has noted the ANC's intention to appeal the Electoral Court's judgment over the candidate submission dispute. The Commission's Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, says the electoral justice mechanism allows for aggrieved political parties and candidates to go to superior courts to vindicate their rights. He was speaking in Centurion on the finalisation of the candidate lists ahead of the November municipal polls. The ANC lost its court bid against the IEC following the exclusion of about 181 of its candidates from contesting the upcoming elections. Ntlantla Kgatlhane reports...

Judgment in the defamation case between ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and ANC NEC member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been reserved. Mbalula challenged Dlamini-Zuma's claims that he used money to secure his position during the 2022 ANC Elective Conference in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. Mbalula dismissed the allegations and requested Dlamini-Zuma to retract them. Ntlantla Kgatlhane reports.....

The ANC has vowed to appeal the Electoral Court's decision against the party. The matter was brought by the ANC against the Electoral Commission. The party had cited technical glitches on the IEC's system, for failing to submit its list of over 180 councillor candidates for the November polls. The ANC missed the commission's 28 August deadline to submit its candidates list citing technical glitches. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News senior political reporter Ntebo Mokobo and Legal Director at The Institute of Election Management Services in Africa Nkululeko Tselane.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) says it expects more legal action as panic hits political parties over the candidate list submissions.  Several parties have lodged complaints with the IEC, seeking an extension to the deadline after failing to submit their lists on time.  The Electoral Court has already turned down the United Democratic Front Party's bid, while the ANC's case will be heard next Tuesday (15 September).   Political parties are in a race against time as the IEC is scheduled to publish the lists of the candidates contesting seats in the November 4 local polls next Wednesday.  Zanele Buthelezi reports.....

The Inkatha Freedom Party has confirmed that another of its councillors has been killed in Msinga, in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. James Mabaso, was on the IFP's PR lists for the upcoming local government elections. He was found deceased with gunshot wounds at his home in Emakhasana village in Pomeroy. Mabaso was also the IFP's Chairperson of the Gordon branch under Ward 18 in the Msinga. To discuss this further Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Acting Director of the Center for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution at Nelson Mandela University, Prof Ntsikelelo Breakfast....

Build One South Africa (BOSA) has outlined five key priorities for the upcoming Local Government Elections. They include reliable basic services, local jobs and economic growth, safer communities, clean government and accountable leadership. The party, led by Mmusi Maimane, delivered its local government manifesto at Fairview Primary School in Johannesburg today. Maimane told supporters gathered at the school hall that approximately 800 candidates will contest the elections across 24 municipalities.

LGE26: By Newsbreak Senior Producer Taresh Harreeparshad - Political expert Prof. Joleen Steyn-Kotze says there is a paralysis in local governance. She was discussing how the electorate needs to pay careful attention to the way local government has been managed as they deliberate who to give their vote to this election...

Whilst celebrating its first year of existence, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement also announced their mayoral candidates in the Gauteng Province. Party leader, Floyd Shivambu says the candidates were chosen after an intense consultation process with communities. The party will be contesting in more than 4 000 wards in the upcoming local government elections.

-by Newsbreak's Taresh Harreeparshad. As Election Season 2026 rolls out in full force- we ask YOU what's your electoral mandate? In this edition of Newsbreak Talk we canvass your elections expectations, to Give Your Views A Voice.  

The Electoral Commission has denied claims that its Online Candidate Nomination System experienced technical failures. The ANC says it experienced difficulties in submitting its list of candidates contesting the 2026 local government elections. Close to two-thousand-300 candidates from 45 political parties have been disqualified from contesting after missing last week's deadline.  Jon Gericke Elections Analyst, Wayne Sussman....

By Newsbreak Senior Producer, Taresh Harreeparshad - A new poll by the Institute of Race Relations- or IRR suggests that women voters are more likely to vote for the ANC than the DA. The report entitled The Political State of Play – SA's Women Voters 2021 to 2026 shows that when it comes to the female vote- the ANC led the DA by 11 points among women  at 37% to 26%. For the male vote- the difference was only 1 point among men at 27% to 26%. Research author Hermann Pretorius explains what drives the female vote...