Cape Town – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says preparations for the 2026 local government elections are underway, with more South Africans registering political parties.
IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo confirmed on Tuesday that 34 new parties have been registered since May 2024, 13 of them in the past month, bringing the total to 472 registered parties.
Of these, 287 will contest nationally and 185 at provincial, district, or metro level.
Since April 2025, 39 ward by-elections have taken place, with Gauteng leading in the number of contested wards. The next by-elections are set for 3 September in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Limpopo.
Watch below (Courtesy of SABC News)
IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi says the commission declines about 5 political party registrations a month. He says since July, 13 new parties have been registered, while there are seven awaiting approval. @LumkaBekindawo has more.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/v7Q8ADBF35
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 26, 2025
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has raised the disclosure threshold for donations from R100,000 to R200,000, and the annual donation cap from R15 million to R30 million.
The decision faced a court challenge from civil society group My Vote Counts, which argued that all donations should be declared to prevent elite influence.
However, the Western Cape High Court dismissed the application, ruling that the objections were speculative.
My Vote Counts says it will continue advocating for stronger political funding transparency despite the judgment.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
