South Africans will head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, after President Cyril Ramaphosa officially declared the day a public holiday for the upcoming Local Government Elections.
The move is aimed at giving eligible South Africans an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote in the municipal elections.
President Ramaphosa initially announced 4 November 2026 as the election date in April, following consultations with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The 2026 Local Government Elections will determine the councillors who will represent communities in municipalities across South Africa for the next five-year term
Read More: “IEC encourages voters to prepare ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections”
The public holiday applies specifically to Wednesday, 4 November 2026, and does not become an annual public holiday.