OUR CITY NEWS: Eighty-three parties contest crowded Joburg local government elections
Johannesburg is the most contested municipality in SA’s local elections. Here are some of the 83 political parties in the running that you probably haven’t heard of.
Johannesburg, South Africa is set to elect its local government on 4th November 2026. An unprecedented 83 political parties, including well-known parties like the ANC, DA, EFF and smaller, more unconventional groups, are vying for the 135 wards across the city. To contest as a political party candidate, a candidate must pay a deposit of R2,800, while independents must pay R1,800.
Among the diverse candidates are smaller parties like the Imstaying political party, led by Shireen Ebrahim, and the Organic Humanity Movement, advocating for a restructure of the political system and gun ownership. The Bolsheviks Party of South Africa, a revolutionary socialist organisation, and the Gap Fixers of South Africa, campaigning for a more stable employment system, are also in the running.
The Lekwe Bepe Kingdom Party describes itself as a democratic political movement committed to ethical leadership and sustainable development, though specific leadership details are not yet available. The African Renaissance Unity (ARU) party, which was relaunched in 2026, was initially formed in 2018 and aims to advocate for a restructured political system. The Ilizwe Nathi party, led by Thabile Sibeko, campaigns for a people-centred government that serves all socioeconomic classes equally.
The special voting period for the local elections will take place on November 2nd and 3rd, from 8 am to 5 pm. Voters will need to use two very long ballot papers - one for the ward councillor and another for the proportional representation (PR) councillor.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
