Here’s why a would-be party leader missed out in the 2026 local government elections

Bongani Wellington Cibi, an independent candidate, failed to secure a spot on the ballot for the 2026 local government elections due to his exclusion from the polls. The Electoral Court rejected his attempt to overturn his exclusion, stating that it was not due to any fault of his own but rather a result of procedural errors by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

Cibi's plans to form a political party before the registration deadlines set by the IEC had been derailed on 28 August when he learned that the registration process would not be completed in time. Despite his efforts to register as an independent candidate, he was unable to secure registration due to the statutory objection period, which began on 21 August and lasted for 14 days.

Cibi criticized the IEC for not providing adequate guidance and clear communication about the registration procedures and deadlines. He also claimed that the IEC mishandled his documents. However, the IEC denied any wrongdoing, asserting that they had not informed Cibi that he could participate in the elections despite missing the deadlines.

The commission also maintained that they had processed his application to register a political party, but the objection period prevented the completion of the registration before the candidate nominations deadline. The Electoral Court dismissed Cibi's application, ruling that his exclusion was a result of the statutory requirements not being met, and not a decision made by the IEC.