By A political dispute has emerged between South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), and the Electoral Commission (IEC) following the closing of candidate nominations for the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for November 4, 2026.
According to the National Spokesperson Ms Mahlengi Bhengu, the ANC stated that it had successfully lodged the vast majority of its candidate entries before the nomination deadline of 17:00 on Friday, August 28. However, the ruling party claimed that the Electoral Commission’s candidate-capture system suffered technical difficulties on the final day of submission, affecting several political parties.
As a result, the ANC indicated that a small number of its candidate entries were still being finalized directly with the commission through existing administrative processes. Expressing full confidence in the IEC, the ANC noted that it intended to resolve the remaining submissions quietly without conducting the matter through the media, choosing instead to keep its focus on ward-level campaigning.
The Electoral Commission issued a prompt rebuttal on September 1, 2026, directly addressing the ANC’s assertions and firmly rejecting claims of technical failures or extended submission windows.
The IEC clarified that its Online Candidate Nomination System remained operational without interruption throughout the nomination window and up to the August 28 deadline. To ensure seamless submission, the commission highlighted that the digital system had been made accessible to all political parties and independent candidates as early as June 21, 2026—well ahead of the official proclamation on August 7.
Countering any expectation of post-deadline adjustments, the IEC explicitly stated that no party or independent candidate would be granted additional capturing opportunities beyond the established deadline. The commission emphasized that all technical nuances and operational matters surrounding candidate nominations would be reviewed within the National Political Liaison Committee, which includes all political parties represented in the National Assembly.
Reaffirming its mandate to deliver a transparent, impartial, and credible election, the commission announced that a comprehensive briefing detailing the finalized outcomes of the candidate nomination process, alongside upcoming election milestones, will be delivered on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Election House in Centurion.
