Quick facts about local government elections in SA

Here’s a handy guide to help you stay informed and ready for election day

April 5, 2026

Lauren Anthony 2 minutes read

Eligible voters urged to make their cote count PHOTO: GCIS

With local government elections coming up, it’s important to know how your vote works, who you’re voting for, and why it matters.

Here’s a handy guide to help you stay informed and ready for election day.

ALSO READ: Why your vote matters so much in local government elections

1. Who can vote?

To vote in municipal elections, you must:
· Be a South African citizen
· Be 18 or older on voting day
· Have a green, bar-coded South African ID, a smart ID card, or a valid temporary ID certificate (TID)
· Be registered to vote in the ward where you live: Check on www.elections.org.za

2. Why your vote matters

Municipal elections are about your community. This is where you choose ward councillors and political parties to deliver essential services like water, electricity, sanitation, refuse removal, and local roads.

Your vote directly shapes how your municipality is run. The ward councillor you elect will be your first point of contact for any service delivery issues or local concerns.

3. How local government works

South Africa has three types of municipalities:
· Metropolitan Councils (Metros): Large urban areas like Johannesburg, Cape Town and eThekwini, divided into wards.
· Local Municipalities: Smaller towns and cities, including many in Zululand, divided into wards represented on local councils.
· District Municipalities: Oversee and support multiple local municipalities.

Councillors are either ward councillors, elected directly by residents, or proportional representation (PR) councillors, representing political parties according to the proportion of votes they receive.

4. How voting works

On election day, voters in local municipalities typically receive three ballots:

· Ward ballot: Vote for a councillor or independent candidate to represent your ward
· Local PR ballot: Vote for a political party for your local council
· District PR ballot: Vote for a party to represent your municipality on the district council

In metropolitan areas, you get two ballots: ward councillor and metro PR.

5. Role of ward councillors and committees

Ward councillors are your direct link to municipal decision-making. They chair ward committees, monitor municipal performance, and represent your concerns at council meetings.

Ward committees are advisory groups made up of community representatives. They work with councillors to ensure your voice is heard, contribute to planning, and help monitor service delivery.

6. Voting day essentials

· Find your voting station ahead of time using the IEC’s Voting Station Finder: https://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/
· Bring your valid ID
· Check your name on the voters’ roll
· Mark your ballot clearly and cast your vote

7. Stay informed

Informed citizens are responsible citizens. For the latest local election updates, follow:

IEC South Africa:

· Facebook: IECSouthAfrika
· Instagram: @IECSouthAfrica
· X (formerly Twitter): @IECSouthAfrica
· TikTok: @IECSouthAfrica
· YouTube: IECSouthAfrica
· WhatsApp: ‘Hi’ to 060 088 00 00

Zululand Observer:

· Website: Zululand Observer
· Facebook: ZululandObserver
· X: @ZOPublications
· Instagram: @zululand_observer
· YouTube: Zululand Observer

Your vote is your voice so make sure it counts.

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