IEC refutes ANC technical glitch claims over candidate submissions

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has rejected allegations from the African National Congress (ANC) that its Online Candidate Nomination System experienced technical issues during the submission of candidate lists for the 2026 local government elections. The ANC reported difficulties in submitting its list of candidates due to problems with the system. As of now, nearly 2,300 candidates from 45 political parties have been disqualified for missing the submission deadline.

Masego Shiburi, Deputy CEO for Electoral Operations at the IEC, stated that the commission thoroughly examined its logs and records, finding no evidence to support the ANC's claims. Shiburi emphasized that the system performed well during the period when the ANC alleged the system was malfunctioning. The IEC made the online platform available and communicated its availability to all political parties on June 21 to allow them ample time to submit their candidate lists, thus reducing the likelihood of accusations of system malfunction.