7 things to know about the 2026 local elections
From the rise of coalitions to the MK Party’s strong showing in KZN, these are the key developments shaping South Africa’s local government.
South Africans made their voices heard this week, showing with a cross how they want their towns and cities to be governed.
With capturing underway, emerging results from the South African Local Government Elections 2026 highlight the country’s changing political landscape and the growing number of coalition governments.
Massive voter and ward scale: Across South Africa’s nine provinces, approximately 29 million registered voters cast ballots to contest 10 526 council seats across eight metropolitan, 205 local and 44 district municipalities. In 2026, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and political parties drew more than 3.8 million more South Africans to the polls than in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on turnout.
7 most important things to know about the elections
The widespread era of coalitions: This election has cemented coalitions as the future of South African local government. Counting trends have produced a record number of hung municipalities, forcing rival political parties to negotiate power-sharing agreements to form functioning municipal councils.
South Africans made their voices heard this week, showing with a cross how they want their towns and cities to be governed.
With capturing underway, emerging results from the South African Local Government Elections 2026 highlight the country’s changing political landscape and the growing number of coalition governments.
7 most important things to know about the elections
Massive voter and ward scale: Across South Africa’s nine provinces, approximately 29 million registered voters cast ballots to contest 10 526 council seats across eight metropolitan, 205 local and 44 district municipalities. In 2026, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and political parties drew more than 3.8 million more South Africans to the polls than in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on turnout.
The widespread era of coalitions: This election has cemented coalitions as the future of South African local government. Counting trends have produced a record number of hung municipalities, forcing rival political parties to negotiate power-sharing agreements to form functioning municipal councils.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
