By Akani Nkuna
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has allocated a budget of R2.1 billion for the 2026 Local Government Elections, expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.
The commission said the funding is aimed at ensuring a smooth, credible, and transparent electoral process across the country. However, it is currently in discussions with the National Treasury to secure additional funds.
“Our allocation for next year is in the region of R2.1 billion. We are in discussion with National Treasury to see whether, even with other competing priorities in the country, they may be able to avail funds from savings,” said IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi.
“On our part, we have generated savings which National Treasury has permitted us to carry over to the next financial year, but we are still in discussions,” he added.
Sheburi also revealed that after stakeholder consultations and workshops across the country, consensus was reached to adopt a “cautious, phased and pilot-driven” approach toward electronic voting, rather than introducing it prematurely.
“There needs to be development of a robust legislative framework prior to the introduction of e-voting technologies. Needless to say, electronic voting is not intended for use in the forthcoming municipal elections,” he said.
Consultations, he added, emphasised improving accessibility for all citizens — especially those in rural areas and persons with disabilities — and investing in digital infrastructure for future adoption of e-voting systems.
The Commission has also proposed amendments to Section 15 of the Electoral Act, which currently allows objections to the voters’ roll at any stage. The proposed change would limit objections to the provisionally compiled roll, allowing the IEC to resolve disputes before certification.
Other proposals include automatically de-registering unrepresented political parties that fail to confirm their continued existence by the prescribed date and restricting candidate nominations to parties already registered when an election is called.
Sheburi also welcomed a rise in voter registration numbers, reporting that since the start of the year, over 305 000 new voters have registered, while more than 60 000 updated their details.
He said this reflects growing enthusiasm among young voters and recognition of the Commission’s efforts to simplify the registration process through digital innovations.
The IEC’s nationwide outreach and education programmes have also reached more than 2.6 million people through 18 000 community events.
“These engagements focused on encouraging and preparing first-time voters, promoting active participation, and fostering responsible citizenship among young South Africans ahead of future elections,” said Sheburi.
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