197 election objections lodged as IEC orders five recounts ahead of 2026 results

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is working to resolve 197 objections lodged following the 2026 Local Government Elections, with five recounts ordered in municipalities across the country before the final results are announced.

As of 15:00 on Saturday, the Commission said 54 objections had been dismissed, eight withdrawn and two upheld, while the remaining objections are still being processed.

The two upheld objections have resulted in an edit window being ordered in one matter and recounts being ordered in five wards.

The recounts will take place at voting stations in City of Tshwane, Mangaung Metro, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality and Breede Valley Local Municipality.

The affected wards and voting stations are:

• Tshwane Ward 57 – Village Montessori School (VD32980620)

• Tshwane Ward 102 – Patt Projects (VD33110222)

• Mangaung Metro Ward 19 – Ehrlich Park Fire Station (VD21860029)

• Thaba Chweu Local Municipality Ward 4 – Shalom Church Centre (VD54860014)

• Breede Valley Local Municipality Ward 12 – Christian Light Ministries (VD97520014)

Provisional results could still change

The Commission has stressed that the results currently available remain provisional until all material objections have been determined.

This means that the number of votes received by parties or candidates, as well as the allocation of seats, could still change depending on the outcome of the objections.

Under Section 65 of the Municipal Electoral Act, objections may be lodged on matters that are material to the election result. These include issues relating to voting and counting, unlawful interference with election activities and intimidation or obstruction of voters at or near voting stations.

The Commission said objections under Section 65 should not be confused with ordinary complaints.

Issues such as late voters' roll objections, ward demarcation disputes and internal political party candidate selection processes generally fall outside the scope of these objections.

IEC can amend results or refer matters to Electoral Court

The Commission is required to investigate objections and either uphold or reject them.

Where an objection is upheld before results are declared, the IEC can decide that votes from a particular voting station should not count, or that votes allocated to a party or candidate should be reduced.

If an objection is upheld after the results have been declared, the Commission can amend the results.

In cases involving serious unlawful conduct or irregularities that may justify setting aside an election, the matter can be referred to the Electoral Court.

The IEC said it would make every effort to complete the objection process before announcing the final election results.

Results processing almost complete

The Commission has also confirmed that results processing has been completed in Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

Three provinces still have municipalities where processing is being finalised.

In Gauteng, processing remains outstanding in Emfuleni, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

In North West, Rustenburg remains to be finalised, while in KwaZulu-Natal, processing is still under way in Msunduzi and eThekwini.

The Commission said these remaining municipalities were expected to be finalised by Saturday evening.

The IEC plans to announce the 2026 Local Government Elections results on Sunday, 8 November, at 18:00.

Until then, the Commission has urged political parties, candidates, the public and the media to allow the remaining electoral processes to be completed.