2016 Municipal Elections

Are you ready for the 2016 Municipal Elections?

Municipal elections are held every five years to elect councillors who will be responsible for governing a municipality for the next five years. The current term of office of municipal councils ends on 18 May 2016.

The councillors will serve on the town, city, metropolitan or district councils that ensure services that impact the daily lives of citizens in their areas including water, electricity and sanitation.

In terms of the Constitution the election must be held between 18 May and 16 August 2016. So get ready to have your say in the 2016 Municipal Elections. Your vote is your voice, use it wisely.

President Jacob Zuma has declared 3 August 2016, the date of the 2016 Municipal Elections, a public holiday.

Local government in South Africa is made up of municipalities which are run by councils.

There are currently three kinds of municipalities:

  • metropolitan municipalities which are big cities
  • local municipalities which are towns and their surrounding rural areas
  • district municipalities which coordinate a number of local municipalities in a region

The largest metropolitan areas are governed by metropolitan municipalities, while the rest of the country is divided into district municipalities, each of which consists of several local municipalities. South Africa’s local government is currently made up of eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities, and 207 local municipalities.

Special votes

Applications for special votes for the 2016 Municipal Elections will open on Friday 10 June 2016 and close on Friday 8 July 2016, as specified in the official election timetable.  You can apply for a special vote:

  • Online - click here to apply
  • Via SMS - SMS your ID Number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS). Note this option applies only to voting station special vote
  • At your local IEC office by submitting a MEC35 form. Forms can only be hand-delivered, but someone else can deliver your completed form on your behalf (Download MEC35 form)
  • Via the Official IEC Election application. Download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

You will receive an SMS notifying you of the outcome once your application has been processed, but you can also check the status of your special vote application online.

Visit our Special votes page for more information.

Use our voting station finder to find your voting station. Find out more about the elections.

Follow the conversation on social media: #2016LocalElections

Contact details
Call: 0800 11 8000 
Email: info@elections.org.za

The contact centre is open Monday to Friday, from 7h00 to 21h00.
 

Government speeches, statements and advisories:
 

Home Affairs on collection of voting documents 4 Aug 2016
South Africa remains peaceful as the process of counting votes progresses 4 Aug 2016
MEC Galaletsang Gaolaolwe on local government elections 4 Aug 2016
Electoral Commission on election progress report as of 4 August 2016 at 11h00 4 Aug 2016
Government thanks South Africans for voting 4 Aug 2016
Electoral Commission on Municipal Elections 3 Aug 2016
MEC Galaletsang Gaolaolwe on importance of voting 3 Aug 2016
Government Communications on local government elections 3 Aug 2016
Home Affairs on operations during Local Government Elections 3 Aug 2016
Electoral Commission on 2016 local elections progress 2 Aug 2016
Cooperative Governance on progress in the 2016 Local Government Elections 2 Aug 2016
Electoral Commission on special voting 2 Aug 2016
North West Government on readiness for 2016 local government elections 2 Aug 2016
Youth Development Agency offers voter education to youth 2 Aug 2016
MEC Galaletsang Gaolaolwe wishes the North West province a peaceful, free and fair election 2 Aug 2016
President Jacob Zuma calls on all South Africans to vote in the 2016 local government elections 1 Aug 2016
Electoral Commission on special voting for 2016 Municipal Elections 1 Aug 2016
Limpopo Government on voting schedule for office bearers 1 Aug 2016
Government Communications on local government elections 30 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on unlawful removal of ballots from a delivery vehicle in Dobsonville 29 Jul 2016

 

MEC Pauline Williams on 2016 Local Government Elections readiness 29 Jul 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen attends launch of National Results Operations Centre in Tshwane 27 Jul 2016
Chairperson Glen Mashinini: Launch of National Results Operations Centre 27 Jul 2016
Chief Electoral Officer Mosotho Moepya: Launch of National Results Operations Centre 27 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on Local Government Elections 21 Jul 2016
Government calls for peace and tolerance 20 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on applications received for special votes for 2016 Municipal Elections 20 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission develop ballot template 20 Jul 2016
Cooperative Governance on state of readiness for local government elections 19 Jul 2016
Minister Malusi Gigaba: Media briefing on Home Affairs readiness for the 2016 Local Government Elections 19 Jul 2016
Premier Supra Mahumapelo urges churches to pray for reconciliation, unity and peaceful elections 17 Jul 2016
Eastern Cape Legislature on turnout for voter education campaign in Mdantsane 11 Jul 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen lauds progress of securing voters addresses in Tlokwe 9 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on accreditation for all Results Operation Centres for 2016 Municipal Elections 8 Jul 2016
Acting National Commissioner Lt Gen Khomotso Phahlane: SAPS State of Readiness for 2016 Local Government Elections 8 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission publishes voting station addresses and mobile routes 8 Jul 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen calls on registered voters in Tlokwe to verify their details 6 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on special vote applications for 2016 Municipal Elections 5 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on accreditation for results operation centres for 2016 municipal elections 2 Jul 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen on 2016 Municipal Elections 1 Jul 2016
Electoral Commission on parties and candidates contesting 2016 Municipal Elections 1 Jul 2016
President Jacob Zuma declares 3 August 2016 a public holiday 24 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on participation of Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) in 2016 Municipal Elections 23 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on current levels of violent protest and intimidation 22 Jun 2016
Parliament on Tlokwe Constitutional Court ruling 14 Jun 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen welcomes Constitutional Court judgement 14 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on Constitutional Court judgment on 2016 Municipal Elections 14 Jun 2016
Cooperative Governance on state of readiness of Local Government Elections 10 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on opening of special vote applications for 2016 municipal elections 9 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on 2016 municipal elections 8 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on eligible voters for 2016 Municipal Elections 2 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission on deadline for submission of candidate nominations 1 Jun 2016
Electoral Commission welcomes proclamation of 2016 Municipal Elections 24 May 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen proclaims election date as 3 August 2016 23 May 2016
Electoral Commission on arrangements for National Results Operation Centre 23 May 2016
Minister Des van Rooyen urges South Africans to register for local elections 22 May 2016
Electoral Commission on last chance to register for 2016 municipal elections 22 May 2016
Electoral Commission on signing of Electoral Code of Conduct by national political parties 16 May 2016
Cooperative Governance on Electoral Commission credibility 2 May 2016
Cooperative Governance on credibility of the IEC 2 May 2016

 

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