IEC launches 2026 local government elections campaign

The Electoral Commission of South Africa on Wednesday officially launched the 2026 Local Government Elections campaign at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

IEC Chief Executive Officer Sy Mamabolo announced that the commission will deploy a 24-hour artificial intelligence agent during the voting period to assist voters and improve access to election-related information.

Mamabolo also revealed a new youth-focused programme titled Beats for My Peeps, aimed at encouraging young people to participate in the electoral process. The show is expected to air on SABC1 from 3 June 2026 at 18:00.

He said preparations for the national voter registration weekend scheduled for 20 and 21 June are at an advanced stage, with the Department of Home Affairs expected to keep offices open to help citizens apply for identity documents.

Mamabolo urged all qualifying South Africans, particularly first-time voters, to register during the upcoming registration weekend.

According to the commission, between January and May this year, the online voter registration portal recorded 376,140 new registrations. The country’s total number of registered voters now stands at 27,912,415, reflecting the growing use of digital registration platforms.

Mamabolo also cautioned the public against spreading false information online, encouraging citizens to verify content before sharing it. He said the commission continues to work with civil society organisations through the Real411 platform to identify and report disinformation linked to elections.