South Africa Gazettes Elected Councillors After Processing 1,708 Objections

The Electoral Commission of South Africa gazetted the names of councillors elected in the 2026 Local Government Elections on November 13, 2026. The list covers 10,526 local and district council seats. This publication requires municipal managers to convene the first meetings of their respective councils within 14 days.

Chairperson Mosotho Moepya reported that the commission received 1,708 submissions, a significant increase from 2021. Only 433 of these were deemed valid Section 65 objections concerning voting proceedings or interference. Of the 252 finalized objections, the commission upheld three and rejected 249, a process that involved 12 recounts and seven edit windows. Most challenges focused on counting irregularities, results capturing errors, and spoilt ballots.

Certain seats remain vacant or pending. A revote is scheduled for November 18 in Ward 3 of Siyancuma Municipality in the Northern Cape after party members stormed a voting station, leaving over 100 ballots uncounted. Additionally, five ward by-elections will be scheduled due to candidate deaths and redesignations. In a separate ruling, the Superior Electoral Court barred a candidate in Ngcobo Municipality from office for five years for impersonating commission staff.

Demographic data shows women comprise 33.6% of declared councillors, with an average age of 47.3 years. The Economic Freedom Fighters recorded the highest female representation at 46.2%, while the Inkatha Freedom Party recorded the lowest at 18%.