South Africa’s November 4 Local Government Elections: What’s Happening?

Record‑Breaking Number of Candidates

More than 136 000 people have cleared the IEC’s checks and will appear on ballot papers for the upcoming local government elections. After 5 096 nominations were removed during the statutory review, 136 790 candidates remain eligible to contest seats across eight metros, 44 districts and 205 local municipalities.

How Many Seats Are Up for Grabs?

The candidates will compete for 10 526 council seats—slightly more than the 10 478 seats contested in the 2021 elections. Back then, only 95 427 candidates were certified.

Where the Candidates Are Spread

• Metropolitan municipalities: about 43 000 candidates
• District municipalities: 6 443 candidates
• Local municipalities: roughly 87 000 candidates

Party vs. Independent Contenders

• Party‑nominated ward candidates: ~98 000
• Party‑nominated proportional‑representation (PR) candidates: ~38 000
• Independent ward candidates: 621

What the Ballot Will Look Like

Johannesburg leads with 75 parties on its PR list, followed by Tshwane (70), eThekwini (69), Ekurhuleni (67) and Cape Town (55). Because more than 48 parties are contesting the PR vote in those metros, the IEC will use a double‑column ballot paper to fit all the names.

At ward level, the competition is fierce too. Johannesburg’s Ward 18 has 63 candidates vying for a single seat—described by IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo as “a highly contested ward in the country.”

Who’s Running? A Demographic Snapshot

• Age groups

  • 40‑49 years: 31 %
  • 50‑59 years: 24.3 %
  • 30‑39 years: 23.8 %
• Gender
  • Men: 85 000 (62 %)
  • Women: 51 000 (38 %)

The gender gap narrows for PR seats (women 44 %, men 56 %) but widens for ward contests (men 65 %, women 35 %).

IEC’s Next Steps

• Ballot‑paper draw: scheduled for 23 September, when parties will also sign the Electoral Code of Conduct.
• Election‑official recruitment: 23 000 presiding officers and 29 000 deputy presiding officers are being hired; more than half are already in training.
• Voting stations: 23 696 secured nationwide (22 668 permanent, 995 temporary, 33 mobile).
• Results system testing: external assessors will validate the platform from 17 September to 7 October, with parties invited to test it between 5‑12 October. Mamabolo stressed that catching glitches early protects the integrity of the final count.

Legal Clarity

The IEC will implement the latest Electoral Court ruling on disputed candidate submissions, saying the decision “creates certainty about those who are eligible to participate.” The commission remains focused on delivering a credible, transparent, inclusive and lawful election.

Conclusion

South Africa’s upcoming local government polls are shaping up to be one of the most contested in recent history. With over 136 000 candidates, a diverse age and gender mix, and preparations well underway, voters will have plenty of choices—and the IEC is working hard to make sure the process runs smoothly from nomination to the final result. Stay informed, and make sure your voice is heard on 4 November!