ConCourt orders ANC back on the ballot in several municipalities
The IEC says it will give effect to the order setting aside its rejection of the party's lists, with ballot printing already past 66% of 79 million papers ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
The Constitutional Court has set aside the Electoral Commission’s decision to reject the ANC’s candidate lists for several municipalities, and ordered that the affected lists be included on ballot papers ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections.
The IEC said on Thursday that it notes the judgment in the appeal brought by the ANC and will give effect to the order.
“The Commission respects the authority of the Constitutional Court as the arbiter of final instance and will give effect to the order of the Court,” the Commission said.
“While the Commission’s position throughout the proceedings has been guided by its interpretation of the applicable electoral legislation and the need to ensure consistent application with prescribed electoral processes, it recognises its constitutional obligation to implement the Court’s decision.”
The dispute originated when the ANC alleged that a technical glitch on the IEC’s online submission system had prevented the party from submitting 181 candidates by the official deadline.
The Commission said it will communicate further details on the implementation process once the necessary assessments have been completed, and urged all political parties and stakeholders to cooperate during the period.
“The Commission reassures the public that preparations for the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections remain a priority. It will continue to discharge its constitutional mandate independently, impartially and in accordance with the law,” it said.
Ballot production is already well advanced. On Wednesday the Commission said printing was underway with more than 66% of the 79 million ballots already printed, and that production is expected to conclude by Sunday, 18 October 2026. The bulk of non-security election materials has been distributed to local municipalities in readiness for special voting on 2 and 3 November and Election Day on 4 November.
What the Commission has not yet said is how the reinstated lists will be folded into a print run that is two thirds complete, or what the change means for the ballots already produced. That detail is promised once its assessments are done.
This report is based on the account published by SAnews, the South African Government News Agency, which is a summary of the Commission’s statements rather than the text of the judgment itself. The judgment and the Commission’s implementation plan are the records to watch. (https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/iec-notes-concourt-judgement-candidate-lists-matter)
