South Africa's Electoral Commission Declares 2026 Local Elections Free and Fair, Orders Revote at One Voting Station

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Sunday night formally declared the 2026 Local Government Elections free and fair at its National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, with the results of all 213 municipal councils finalised and declared. According to SAnews, the South African Government News Agency, Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepya, announcing the final results, said a total of 29.2 million voters were registered for the elections, about 14.9 million South Africans cast their ballots, and national turnout stood at 52%, an increase of 6.1 percentage points from the 45.9% recorded in the 2021 Local Government Elections.

In the results announced by the Commission, the African National Congress (ANC) received 30.76% of the vote and secured 3,246 council seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 24.64% and 1,695 seats, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) with 9.76% and 785 seats, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 6.22% and 588 seats, and ActionSA with 5.67% and 313 seats. Other political parties and independent candidates collectively received 22.97% of the vote. A total of 521 political parties and 636 independent candidates contested the elections, fielding about 137,000 candidates for 10,526 council seats. The ANC achieved outright control in 53 municipalities and is the leading party in 128. Of the 213 municipalities, 72 councils have a party with an outright majority of seats, while the remaining 127 are hung councils. Spoilt votes were 1.84%.

Moepya said the declaration was based in part on the 2026 Election Satisfaction Survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council, which found that 90% of voters regarded the procedures as free, 91% as fair, 95% were satisfied with IEC services and 91% queued for no longer than 30 minutes. Trust in the Electoral Commission remained high at 81% but has gradually declined from 93% in 2016, with intimidation, impartiality, inclusive voting and information gaps identified as areas requiring improvement.

The Commission also ordered a revote at the Jabulani Community Hall voting station in Ward 3 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality in the Northern Cape. Activists from a political party allegedly stormed the voting station in the town of Douglas and destroyed ballot papers before they could be counted. Moepya said the decision was taken under Section 10 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, and that the Commission has approached the Electoral Court and registered a criminal case with the South African Police Service, to safeguard the affected voters' right to vote. The announcement did not give a date for the revote.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attended the announcement, called on political parties to put the interests of communities ahead of political power and positions as they negotiate the formation of municipal governments. He said the stability of municipalities cannot be sacrificed to narrow political interests, the delivery of essential services cannot be held hostage by political disagreements, and local government must together be made an engine of service delivery, development and opportunity.

Moepya said the Commission would review the process honestly and systematically and listen to voters, political parties, candidates, observers and its own staff. 'It is then my singular honour to hereby declare the 2026 Municipal Elections concluded as free and fair,' he said.

(Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa)

Source: Electoral Commission of South Africa

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：南非选举委员会主席Mosotho Moepya在Midrand全国结果运营中心宣布市镇选举结果，大屏显示各党领先与单独执政的市镇数。SAnews供图，南非政府新闻署明示媒体可免费使用其图片并注明出处。 / Photo: IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya announcing municipal outcomes at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand. Photo by SAnews; the South African Government News Agency states media may use its pictures at no cost with credit to SAnews.

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