Here’s how many more candidates are on the IEC ballot in 2026 despite ANC’s missing submissions
Political analyst said poor administration, internal conflict and possible sabotage could be to blame for the ANC missing the deadline to submit candidates
The 2026 South African local government elections will see a record number of candidates eligible to run on November 4. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced the finalised list of candidates and parties on Wednesday, following the ANC's unsuccessful attempt to appeal a dismissal of their late candidate submissions.
The ANC initially intended to seek legal clarification on the dismissal order, but faces the risk of not fielding 181 potential councillors from six municipalities. Analysts warn that a negative ruling could be a significant moment in the party's post-freedom history.
Most parties submitted their documents either manually or through the online portal, with 84% opting for the online method. After the initial deadline, 221 parties representing 1,280 candidates were asked to resubmit their incomplete or incorrect documentation. The IEC will release the complete list of eligible candidates later on Wednesday.
Mamabolo stated that there has been a 30% increase in the 95,427 approved candidates from the 2021 elections. Of these, 98,000 will run for ward councillor positions, while 38,000 will compete on the proportional representation (PR) ballot. A total of 10,526 seats will be contested, up from 10,478 in 2021.
The IEC will display parties side-by-side on some ballots due to the high number of political parties contesting PR seats in several municipalities. This means that five of the largest and most contested municipalities - Johannesburg, Tshwane, eThekwini, Ekurhuleni, and Cape Town - will not have candidates listed in descending alphabetical order. Ward 18 in Johannesburg has the highest number of candidates in the country, with 63.
Mamabolo highlighted that the dismissal of the ANC's appeal creates certainty about those eligible to participate in the elections, allowing the IEC to proceed with the election timetable. Political analyst Andre Duvenhage believes the court's ruling could have a lasting impact on the ANC's legacy, potentially reflecting internal conflict and poor administration.
Duvenhage also suggested that there might be forces within and outside the ANC attempting to undermine the party's current structure and prepare for the 2029 elections.
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