Local elections 2026: coalitions and councillors explained - Daily Maverick

Updated with new answers: who can stand for council, what councillors earn, how coalitions could play out and how to hold your councillor to account.

Thank you for all your election questions. This article was updated on 2 November with a new batch of answers, which appear first.

No. Unlike national and provincial elections, municipal elections do not permit voting outside South Africa or outside your registered voting district. Local ballots are strictly tied to specific ward candidates and local council proportional representation (PR) seats. Your only alternative is an IEC Special Vote cast at your designated voting station on the scheduled special voting days, provided you applied during the gazetted special vote registration window.

Yes, through the IEC’s home visit special vote facility. Registered voters who cannot travel to their voting station due to advanced age, disability, severe illness or physical infirmity can apply to have IEC officials visit their private residence, care home, or hospital during the two designated special voting days. Applications must be lodged within the IEC’s gazetted special vote application window.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s face is the only one on his party’s election boards, which tells you a story. The ANC does not have a layer of local leaders it is either proud enough of, or confident enough of, to put on election boards.

Probably never. The National Prosecuting Authority may compel him to tell the truth in court, but he has not been charged on VBS.

Employment, like growth, is a function of many things – mostly of national policies. This campaign has shown more than most that the local government context can be vital to investment, growth and jobs. You can look at our manifesto analysis of the largest nine parties to see which party has the best ideas for helping us work.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). It does a great job. You can read more here. The site is not great but your patience will be rewarded with a mine of information.

Yes, he will be. EFF leader Julius Malema is appealing against his conviction on the illegal use of a firearm. It will take at least three years for his appeal to be heard, we reported here.

I analysed the UDM’s local government manifesto here. It has a very good reputation for being a whistle-blower party.

Because of decades of cadre deployment by parties in government, this is a real issue. The new White Paper on local government makes the most serious effort yet to depoliticise administrative appointments. It will take a long time for a new public administration ethos and culture to be implemented.

Unfortunately, the so-called Coalitions Bill, which could have set a threshold for participation in government to get rid of the entrepreneurial one-person parties who trade positions for power and wealth, has not been passed in time for this election. You can read more from Professor Susan Booysen here.

Yes. Elected councillors convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine are disqualified (ending five years after sentence completion). For municipal officials, anyone dismissed for financial misconduct, fraud or corruption is barred from being re-employed in any municipal administration for up to 10 years.

The Constitution sets no minimum educational qualifications; any registered voter can stand. Political parties pay a deposit (R2,000 to R3,500) and independent candidates pay R1,000. An ordinary full-time councillor earns between R550,000 and R650,000 annually, MMCs and speakers earn roughly R850,000 to R1.2-million, and executive mayors in major metros earn upwards of R1.5-million per year.

As the municipality’s accounting officer, a city manager has statutory duties to protect public funds. If given an instruction that contravenes procurement regulations or the Constitution, they are legally required to refuse it. If they comply with an unlawful instruction, they become personally and criminally liable for financial misconduct.

Channels include ward committees, public participation meetings on integrated development plans and budgets, attending open municipal council and Municipal public accounts committee meetings, and submitting collective petitions to the Office of the Speaker.

No. Municipal government and the national government operate as distinct, constitutionally autonomous spheres. A vote of no confidence in the national government can only be introduced and voted on by sitting Members of Parliament in the National Assembly.

Unfortunately not. The Coalitions Bill, which sets out ways to make coalitions work better and with less instability, will not be passed in time for this election. All suggestions are that a large number, possibly a majority of councils, could be hung after the election on November 4.

No. His appeal against his conviction could take up to three years to be heard. 

That’s heavy language. The DA’s coalition strategy in Johannesburg is outlined here by its Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, while its election ambition is outlined here by its Federal Council chairperson and head of elections, Ashor Sarupen.  

Great point. I have noticed our councillor has no more power or impact than ordinary citizens: they need to get in line with all of us checking on municipal decline. This is because of the system of local government governance that alienates peoples’ representatives from processes of government.  The white paper on local government, passed by the Cabinet and about to be formally launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, tries to bridge the gaps. We will write about this.  In the meantime, here’s a good summary from the Centre for Development and Enterprises. 

It’s a municipal election. If your partner did not change their address, it is too late now. 

Unite for Change was an attempt to unite smaller parties Rise Mzansi, Build One SA and Good party. It has failed. 

In many municipalities, with great difficulty.  This research paper by Romi Sigsworth shows that many municipalities are subject to systems of what she calls organised crime. 

Our elections portal here has the manifestos of the largest parties and also all our coverage. This article by Ernst Calitz on affordable rentals in Cape Town will be helpful. We are sorry to hear about how difficult life is. 

We track this record every day. Please become a Daily Maverick Insider to join our mission to keep you informed. 

Our portal includes everything you need to. From manifesto analysis, which includes a look at the party’s history, to possible coalition formations.  

One of the best things to come out of this campaign has been the focus on Johannesburg, which all stakeholders have agreed is now a national crisis with an impact on the national economy. Whether or not Johannesburg is put on a reform trajectory is really up to those of us who live here. The best election outcome is that a reformist coalition is formed to ensure that trajectory. I can share my personal strategy with you if that would be helpful. I hope you are going out to vote. 

Politics is only going to take us some part of the road our city needs. My choice has been to be part of the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance, a broad umbrella organisation of all the best civil society and community-based organisations working for a better and thriving Johannesburg. I will write about their call for what should happen after the elections – it’s the best strategy for those of us who want to be activists for a better city. DM