Checked 20 October 2026
Where the facts on your ballot page come from
Every fact on the Your ballot page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
A person for your ward
Who stands in each ward
The names and parties on each ward's paper are from the IEC's certified candidate list of 16 Sep 2026.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 16 September 2026.
Where to look: Every council's ward rows: names and parties only
The town search
Each town and suburb, its ward and its voting station are from the Municipal Demarcation Board's list of voting stations.
Municipal Demarcation Board. Read 21 October 2026.
Where to look: Every station: its ward code, name, suburb and town
A party for your council
The parties on each paper
The parties on each council's paper are from the same IEC list.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 16 September 2026.
Where to look: Every council's party rows
How seats are shared
You vote for a council, not a mayor. In a metro or local municipality, half the seats go to ward councillors. There is one for each ward. The other half go to people on party lists. Each party gets seats to match its share of the votes.
South African Government. Published 18 December 1998.
Where to look: Section 22(1) and (2), PDF page 15: councillors elected to proportionally represent parties and to directly represent wards; ward councillors equal 50 per cent of the council (rounded up)
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated; read 18 October 2026.
Where to look: Step 4: one ballot for a ward councillor and one for a political party as part of the PR section of the election
Who picks the mayor
The councillors choose the mayor, not the voters. The mayor is one of the councillors. They choose at a meeting within 14 days of the council's election. They vote in secret. To win, a person needs more than half the votes. If no one gets that, the person with the fewest votes drops out. Then they vote again.
South African Government. Published 18 December 1998.
Where to look: Section 55(1)(a) and (3), PDF page 23 (executive mayor elected from among council members within 14 days of the council's election, using Schedule 3); sections 45 and 48(1)-(3), PDF page 22 (executive committee elected within 14 days of the council's election; mayor elected from it at the same time, using Schedule 3); Schedule 3 items 6 and 7, PDF page 46 (secret ballot, majority of the votes, elimination of the lowest candidate)
South African Government. Published 5 December 2002.
Where to look: Section 34: adds item 8(3) to Schedule 3, if two candidates are still tied at the further meeting, the presiding person decides by lot; items 6 and 7 unchanged
A party for your district
District councils
A district council works for several local municipalities. The local councils in the district choose 60% of its members. Voters choose the rest on the district party ballot.
South African Government. Published 18 December 1998.
Where to look: Section 23(1)(a)-(b), (2) and (3), PDF page 15: local councils appoint 60 per cent of a district council; the rest are elected to proportionally represent parties
South African Government. Published 1 June 2021.
Where to look: Section 11: section 23 amended only to remove district management areas; the 60 per cent rule stays
Three papers outside the metros
Outside the metros you get three ballots. One is for a ward councillor. One is for a party on your local council. One is for a party on your district council.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated; read 18 October 2026.
Where to look: Step 4 'Get your ballot papers': voters in areas that form part of a district council receive a third ballot paper for the district council election
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 16 September 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph beginning 'An unprecedented 136 790 candidates': seats are contested across 8 metropolitan, 44 district and 205 local municipalities
Two papers in a metro
In a metro you get two ballots. One is for a ward councillor. This is a person, who may stand for a party or on their own, as an independent. The other ballot is for a party.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated; read 18 October 2026.
Where to look: Step 4 'Get your ballot papers': voters in metros and local councils receive two ballot papers, one for a ward councillor and one for a political party
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 16 September 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph beginning 'An unprecedented 136 790 candidates': 621 independent candidates are nominated to represent wards
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