South Africans will go to the polls on 4 November 2026 to elect their municipal representatives after Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa officially proclaimed the date.
Hlabisa announced the election date in Durban on Friday, paving the way for the country’s municipalities to enter the final stretch of preparations for the local government vote.
The upcoming elections will see voters choose councillors who will serve in municipal councils for the next five-year term.
The proclamation sets in motion a series of statutory processes that must be completed before voting day, including the formal closure of the voters’ roll in line with the Electoral Act.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has already undertaken voter registration activities as part of preparations for the elections.
Eligible voters have been urged to verify that their registration details are correct and that they are registered at the address where they ordinarily live.
This is because voters are required to cast their ballots at the voting station associated with their registration details.
With the election date now officially gazetted, the IEC will move ahead with the remaining operational and logistical preparations for the polls.
These preparations include confirming voting stations, training election officials and putting measures in place to ensure that voting can take place smoothly across the country.
Political parties and independent candidates are expected to step up their election campaigns as the 4 November voting date draws closer.
The outcome of the elections will determine the composition of municipal councils and shape local government leadership across South Africa for the next five years.