LGE 2026 | IEC prepares to announce final election results amid major political shifts and hung councils
President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected at the Results Centre this evening.
Anelitha Fandese
The IEC officially launches the 2026 Local Government Elections Campaign on 27 May 2026. Picture: Supplied: @IECSouthAfrica on X.com
Supplied: @IECSouthAfrica on X.com
After days of counting and intense political activity, the country is now waiting for the final verdict from the ballot box.
The local government election results will offer a clearer picture of how South Africans have reconfigured political power at local government level, and which parties will have to find common ground to form governments.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected at the Results Centre this evening.
There’s a hive of activity here at the IEC’s Results Operations Centre ahead of this evening’s announcement of the 2026 local government election results.
Police officers have arrived at the centre to begin security preparations and conduct a sweep ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s expected arrival.
Inside the centre, IEC officials and support teams are busy with preparations for this evening’s proceedings.
Equipment is being set up as the commission prepares to present the final election results following days of counting, verification and the processing of objections.
The announcement comes at a critical moment in this election, with the results pointing to a significant shift in the country’s local government landscape.
With more than 100 municipal councils hung, attention will also turn to what these results mean for coalition governments and the future of municipal governance.
For now, the focus here is on the final logistical and security preparations ahead of what is expected to be a significant evening for the IEC and South Africa’s political landscape.