The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has declared the 2026 Local Government Elections free and fair.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya made the announcement on Sunday evening at the Results Operations Centre in Midrand, where he also released the final results of the country’s seventh democratic local government elections.
At least 14,9 million voters participated in the elections.
Moepya urges South Africans to celebrate a democracy that has come of age. “Protecting electoral integrity therefore extends beyond the physical security of ballot papers and the accuracy of results. It also includes protecting the information environment in which voters make their choices. This, the Commission has done and is satisfied that the 2026 Local Government are indeed, free and fair.”
Moepya says the elections were largely conducted in a peaceful environment.
“The Commission is thus pleased to declare the 2026 Local Government Elections. We say this based on the findings of the Elections Satisfaction Survey 2026 which was tasked with assessing the voters’ view on the election process, including its integrity and operational efficiency.”
Voter turnout in municipal elections from 2000- 2026
#sabcnews #LGE2026Results https://t.co/trclhi0fmC— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 8, 2026
Final results of 2026 LGE
The ANC has retained its position as South Africa’s largest party in the 2026 Local Government Elections, but with just 30.76% of the vote and 3 246 council seats. That is far below the levels it once commanded.
The DA retained second place and strengthened its position, while the MK Party emerged as a significant new force in local government.
Although the ANC secured outright control of 53 municipalities and the DA won 12, only 74 of the country’s 213 councils produced clear majorities.
With more than a hundred municipalities facing hung councils, attention now shifts from the ballot box to coalition negotiations, where power sharing agreements will determine who governs many of South Africa’s key metros and municipalities over the next five years.