(Photo: Michele SPATARI / AFP)
Political parties are starting to get their election campaigns on track after the announcement that the local government elections will take place on 4 November 2026.
The DA, FF Plus, RISE Mzansi and ActionSA all welcomed the announcement and urged voters to check their registration details before casting their votes on election day.
The election will determine who runs municipalities, towns, cities and metros right across the country. The parties say service delivery, municipal finances and the restoration of local government will be central to their campaigns.
DA: ‘Make-or-break election’
Geordin Hill-Lewis, federal leader of the DA. (Photo: DA/X)
Ashor Sarupen, the DA’s national campaign manager, says the party is ready for the run-up to the local government elections.
“On that day, South Africans will have the power to vote for a local government that can get their municipality working again. This local government election is a watershed moment for many small towns, municipalities and metros, and only voters can decide whether their towns or cities fail or succeed.”
According to him, the DA is already working hard to reach voters in communities nationwide and prepare for what the party describes as its biggest campaign yet.
He says the focus is now on ensuring that voters are correctly registered to vote.
“The voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026 is a critical opportunity for every South African to check and confirm their voter registration. Because this is a local government election, voters will only be able to vote at their registered polling station. Correct registration is therefore essential.”
Sarupen says the DA is targeting municipalities in each province where support levels, according to the party, show it can win.
The party has also already announced some of its mayoral candidates. Sarupen says these candidates have been selected through a strict selection process to ensure that they meet the necessary standards.
“Many more DA mayoral candidates will be announced.”
According to him, the DA’s campaign has already contacted more than 2.5 million voters directly. The party plans to reach millions more voters face-to-face in the coming weeks and months.
“The urgency to get towns and cities working again is enormous. This is why this local government election is so important for South Africa.”
FF Plus: Election offers ‘new dawn of hope’
Dr. Corné Mulder, leader of the FF Plus. (Photo: Janice du Plessis/Maroela Media)
Dr. Corné Mulder, leader of the FF Plus, says the election offers South Africans an opportunity to “bring a way out of the morass of decay” in which the ANC has plunged local governments right across the country.
Mulder says voters’ most important task now is to make sure they are registered to vote and that their details are up to date.
“In addition to voting on this day, the most important task for all South Africans now is to make sure they are registered to vote.”
He says eligible voters can update their details at the nearest IEC office or through the IEC’s online system.
According to Mulder, more than three decades of ANC management, corruption and poor service delivery have led to many towns and cities being on the brink of bankruptcy. He thinks it is understandable that apathy has arisen among voters.
“Many began to believe that the ANC would not be easily removed from government and it was therefore difficult to become optimistic about any election. This has changed. It is becoming increasingly clear that the ANC’s support base is shrinking rapidly.”
Mulder says the FF Plus wants to be part of “a new future” in which service delivery and serviceability are prioritized.
“It starts with the local elections that determine who runs your municipality, cleans your streets, provides water and electricity and spends your tax money.”
He urged voters to exercise their democratic right and carefully consider which party’s values, principles and policies resonate best with them.
RISE Mzansi: ‘Restoring power to the people’
Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi. (Photo: OVK)
Makashule Gana, RISE Mzansi’s main organiser, says the election is a critical opportunity for South Africans to restore local government where it matters most – in streets, wards and local councils.
“Local government is the engine room of South Africa. It is the sphere of government closest to the people and responsible for the dignity of our daily lives – from the water in our taps to the safety of our communities.”
According to Gana, the country stagnates when this “engine room” fails due to corruption and neglect.
“On November 4, we have the power to rebuild the foundations of our democracy by building towns and cities that work, where government works for residents rather than simply happening to them.”
Gana says RISE Mzansi’s campaign will be based on its “Pact with the People”, which aims to replace a system of “theft and betrayal” with leaders who combine competence and conscience.
The party says its five core priorities include putting the best leaders in charge, restoring infrastructure and dignity, fixing municipal finances, improving community safety and growing local economies.
Gana says service delivery must be treated as a constitutional right.
“Dignity means a faucet that works, a street that is lit and a councilor that listens.”
RISE Mzansi will announce its campaign priorities and program in the coming weeks. The party also plans to launch its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg before the end of the month.
Gana also urged voters to check their registration status, especially if they have moved since the last election.
“Your vote is your power, but you cannot use it if you are not correctly registered.”
He also encouraged young South Africans to register as first-time voters and take “control of their future”.
ActionSA: ‘Ready to fix what others broke’
Herman Mashaba during his interview with Maroela Media. (Photo: Maroela Media)
Michael Beaumont, ActionSA’s national chairman, says the party welcomes the announcement of the election date and is ready to “fix what others have broken”.
According to him, South African municipalities, cities, towns and settlements are in crisis.
“Basic services continue to collapse, criminals run free, finances are in disarray and accountability is lacking while politicians sit in air-conditioned offices, isolated from the problems they created.”
He says voters are increasingly looking for an alternative because they realize that the same voting choices can lead to continued municipal decay.
“With this announcement, ActionSA can confirm that we are ready to fix what others have broken.”
According to Beaumont, ActionSA has already proven that basic services can be delivered where the party governs. He refers, among other things, to Tshwane, where ActionSA’s mayor, Dr. Nasiphi Moya, according to the party shows what is possible when a municipality needs to be restored.
Beaumont says mayoral candidates such as Herman Mashaba and Athol Trollip have already proven they can lead metros, while emerging candidates such as Xolani Khumalo and Mary Phadi will follow the same approach in their municipalities.
He says ActionSA will not only focus on mayoral candidates, but also on ward candidates who are already leaders in their communities.
“South Africans are let down by ward candidates who only emerge during elections before disappearing again.”
According to him, ActionSA will work with communities to bring forward ward candidates who offer hope for better services and commitment to communities.
“On November 4, South Africans have a golden opportunity to remove the unethical, ineffective and unqualified from office and elect leaders who have already done the job and are ready to do it again.”
Beaumont urged voters to register and vote so they can take control of their municipalities.
The IEC’s voter registration weekend takes place on 20 and 21 June 2026. Because this is a local government election, voters will have to vote at their registered polling station.