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The country and political parties alike are now gearing up for the upcoming local government elections to take place next year between November 2026 and January 2027.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) is likely to see more political parties registering to run in the local government elections, the likes of Mayibuye iAfrika Movement has announced that it will be running in the upcoming elections.
According to the IEC, since the general elections in 2024, the Commission has registered a total of thirty-four (34) new political parties. Thirteen (13) of the new parties were registered in the period between July and August 2025.
The Commission says currently, the total number of registered political parties is four hundred seventy-two (472). Of these, two hundred eighty-seven (287) are registered on a national level, while the balance of one hundred eighty-five (185) are either registered provincially or on the district or metro municipal level.
“Political contestants remain critical in this planning phase. The Commission will convene a series of information sessions starting in November 2025 with registered but unrepresented political parties and aspiring independent candidates in preparation for the upcoming elections,” said Kate Bapela, the Spokesperson for IEC.
Bapela said the sessions in November will mark the beginning of formal consultations with key stakeholders and will focus on, among others:
• The legislative scheme for local government,
• Requirements to contest for seats in a municipal council.
• The roadmap to the elections and critical milestones,
• How votes are converted into seats.
As tensions rise between the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), SACP has decided to contest the municipal elections independently, while the ANC called this move by its alliance a grave mistake.
Floyd Shivambu, the President of Mayibuye iAfrika Movement, says his newly formed political party will be contesting the local elections and will emerge victorious. Their goal as a party is total victory.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party will also be participating for the first time in local elections since its inception in 2024.
