HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR VOTE?
THE QUEST: 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
The Quest Editor-in-Chief MBULELO BALOYI answers questions on the political battle for South Africa's municipalities
1. Why is it important for voters to vote in the upcoming local government elections on 4 November 2026?
Local government is the sphere of government that most directly affects people's daily lives, from water and electricity to sanitation, roads, refuse collection and municipal financial management.
These elections give residents an opportunity to hold councillors and political parties accountable for their performance and determine who should lead their municipalities. Voters must look beyond party slogans and assess candidates' records, credibility and commitment to service delivery.
Abstaining from voting does not necessarily punish an underperforming party; it simply means surrendering one's opportunity to influence who governs the community.
2. What was the ANC's challenge that led to the Constitutional Court case?
The ANC approached the Constitutional Court after the IEC rejected certain candidate nominations because the party had failed to complete the final electronic submission process by the prescribed deadline.
The ANC argued that it had completed the substantive nomination requirements but had not activated the system's final submission function.
After the Electoral Court dismissed its appeal, the ANC escalated the matter to the Constitutional Court.
The dispute raised questions about compliance with electoral deadlines, administrative procedures and the constitutional right of political parties to participate in elections.
3. What swayed the judges to rule in the ANC's favour on 15 October?
The central issue was the treatment of nominations that had reportedly been prepared before the deadline but had not completed the final electronic submission step.
The ANC argued that excluding its candidates in these circumstances would be disproportionate to the nature of the procedural failure.
The ruling allowed 181 ANC candidates across six municipalities to be included, subject to the court order.
However, it should not be interpreted as permission for political parties to ignore electoral deadlines.
The subsequent extension of equivalent relief to similarly affected parties by the IEC highlighted the importance of consistent and fair electoral administration.
4. What does the ruling mean for other parties and the 121 municipalities affected?
The IEC subsequently announced that it would extend equivalent relief to 32 other political parties in comparable circumstances.
Although 121 municipalities were initially identified in connection with these parties, the IEC reported that the resulting relief affected 107 municipalities following its assessment.
The ruling has implications for candidate certification, ballot preparation and election logistics.
Politically, it allows qualifying candidates to contest where they might otherwise have been excluded.
However, the outcome does not automatically benefit any particular party; electoral success will depend on voter preferences and the eventual distribution of council seats.
5. What is the new voter-registration cut-off date following the ruling?
The Constitutional Court ruling concerned candidate nominations and did not, by itself, establish a new voter-registration deadline.Voter registration is a separate electoral process, and voters should not assume that the judgment automatically reopened registration or allowed them to change their voting districts.
The IEC remains the authoritative source for registration deadlines and voting arrangements.Voters should check their registration status through the official IEC website at www.elections.org.za and follow any formal announcements concerning changes to the electoral timetable.
6. When is the deadline for special votes, and where can voters check their registration?
The deadline for special-vote applications was 12 October 2026 at 17:00, and that application period has closed.
Approved special votes are scheduled for 2 and 3 November, ahead of election day on 4 November.
Voters can check their registration and voting station details through www.elections.org.za, by SMSing their identity number to 32810 at the applicable charge, or by calling the IEC contact centre on 0800 11 8000.
Those who applied for special votes should confirm their approval and applicable voting arrangements directly with the IEC.
7. Which parties are likely to emerge strongest in major metros such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay and Mangaung?
The metropolitan political landscape is increasingly fragmented, with the ANC, DA, MK Party, EFF, IFP and smaller parties competing for support.
October polling by eNCA–MarkData recorded the DA at 52.6% in Cape Town and 35% in Johannesburg among respondents intending to vote, while the ANC recorded 23.6% and 21.8%, respectively.
These are survey findings, not election results.
In Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay, the same polling showed closely contested races between the ANC and DA.
The political dynamics in Tshwane, eThekwini and Mangaung require careful assessment of metro-specific evidence.
Ultimately, council-seat distribution and coalition negotiations will be as important as the share of votes received by individual parties.
8. Can the DA retain Cape Town and make gains in Gauteng?
The DA's position in Cape Town will be assessed against its municipal record, voter turnout and competition from other parties.
Its 52.6% in the October eNCA–MarkData survey provides an indication of reported voting intentions, but polling cannot guarantee the final outcomes.
In Gauteng, the political landscape is more fragmented. Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane feature competition among several established and emerging parties.
The DA's ability to govern will therefore depend not only on its own electoral performance but also on whether it secures a council majority or can negotiate workable coalition arrangements.
9. Can the ANC hold onto eThekwini, Mangaung and other municipalities after the candidate list dispute?
The ANC's electoral prospects will depend on more than the candidate list dispute. The party faces the challenge of convincing voters that it can improve service delivery, strengthen municipal administration and restore confidence in its leadership.
In KwaZulu-Natal, competition from the MK Party, IFP, EFF, DA and other parties adds to the challenge.
In Mangaung and other municipalities, voters will assess the ANC's governing record alongside the credibility of opposition candidates.
Although the court ruling addressed the immediate nomination problem for affected candidates, it cannot resolve broader concerns about governance, organisational discipline and public confidence.
Ultimately, voters will determine whether the ANC retains control or must negotiate with other parties.
What role will the MK Party, EFF, IFP, ActionSA, Patriotic Alliance and Rise Mzansi play as potential kingmakers in coalition governments?
These parties could become important coalition partners where no single party wins an outright council majority.The MK Party's presence is particularly significant in KwaZulu-Natal, while the IFP has an established regional base.
The EFF, ActionSA, Patriotic Alliance and Rise Mzansi could also influence negotiations in municipalities where their council seats help determine the governing majority.
However, securing a role in a coalition is only the beginning. Parties must demonstrate that they can reach workable agreements on budgets, executive appointments, accountability and service delivery.
The public will ultimately judge these arrangements by whether they produce stable, functional municipalities rather than political deals that collapse before meaningful progress can be made.
11. Are we likely to see more hung councils than in 2021?
The fragmentation evident in several metropolitan polling results suggests that hung councils will remain a significant possibility.
Where no party secures more than half the council seats, parties must negotiate with others to establish a governing majority.
However, it would be premature to conclude that there will be more hung councils than in 2021 without reliable evidence covering the final results across municipalities.
The critical issue is not merely whether councils are hung, but whether coalition partners can maintain stable administrations, approve budgets and deliver services despite political differences.
12. How will these local elections serve as a test for the 2029 general elections and the Government of National Unity?
The 2026 elections will provide an important indication of how voters are responding to South Africa's changing political landscape following the ANC's loss of its national parliamentary majority in 2024 and the formation of the Government of National Unity.
The results will test the ANC's ability to rebuild support, the DA's capacity to expand its electoral base and the MK Party's ability to translate its support into municipal representation.
The elections will also test whether parties that cooperate nationally can work together effectively at local level, where they may be competing for control.
Although municipal results cannot automatically predict the 2029 general elections, they will provide valuable evidence about voter confidence, coalition politics and the parties' ability to demonstrate effective governance.
13. What are the key issues driving voters in this election?
Service delivery is likely to remain central, particularly access to reliable water, sanitation, electricity infrastructure, refuse collection and maintained roads.
Unemployment, local economic development, housing, crime and the management of municipal finances will also influence how residents assess their local administrations.
Political accountability and coalition stability are equally important. Voters want credible candidates, responsible spending and municipalities that function regardless of political disagreements.
Ultimately, parties will need to demonstrate not only that they understand residents' problems, but also that they have realistic plans and the administrative capacity to address them.
CONCLUSION: WHAT IS AT STAKE?
The 2026 local government elections come at a defining moment for South African politics.
The ANC faces pressure to defend its governing record, the DA seeks to strengthen its position, and the MK Party and other opposition formations are competing to expand their influence.
Meanwhile, smaller parties could determine the composition of governing coalitions in several municipalities.
However, the ultimate measure of success must be more than electoral victories or control of mayoral offices.
Voters need municipalities that deliver essential services, manage public funds responsibly and remain accountable to their communities.
The central question is whether political competition will translate into better local governance and tangible improvements in people's lives. TQ
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