The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reported that 376 000 new voters registered via its online portal between January and May 2026, with the majority being young South Africans, the primary focus of the commission’s outreach campaign.This brings the total number of registered voters to 27.9 million, surpassing the figures from the 2024 general elections.President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that local government elections will take place on 4 November 2026.

IEC chief executive Sy Mamabolo highlighted ongoing challenges such as the loss of approximately 34 000 voters monthly due to mortality, and described various initiatives to engage citizens, especially youth.

These initiatives include a youth-oriented edutainment series called 'Beats for My Peeps,' a podcast, a media app for journalists, and a door-to-door voter registration campaign in 212 municipalities which added 300 000 new voters.The first voter registration weekend is scheduled for 20 and 21 June, supported by nearly 24 000 registration stations across 4 488 wards.

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasised that these measures demonstrate the commission’s commitment to continuous national dialogue and voter engagement, countering political alienation.

Commissioner Glen Mashinini stated that local government elections are essential for legitimising elected representatives and ensuring effective community service delivery.

The IEC also continues to combat disinformation and aims to publish a draft code of conduct on misinformation for public comment, further safeguarding electoral integrity.