By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) unveiled the Local Government Elections logo, marking a key milestone in the preparations for the upcoming polls expected later this year.
The unveiling took place at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng, on Wednesday morning
The commission introduced the new election identity, which includes the tagline “Get Up. Show Up. Vote”, saying it reflects a “forward-looking, voter-centric democracy” and is aimed at encouraging greater youth participation ahead of the elections.
It said the branding also reaffirms the commission’s commitment to delivering credible and accessible elections.
According to the IEC, the tagline is anchored in the belief that South Africans care deeply about their families, communities, livelihoods, and the future of the country.
The commission said the logo and tagline will now be used across election materials and platforms as part of the build-up to the local government elections.
IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the three-part call to action was designed to resonate with people in a simple but meaningful way.
“This logo represents inclusive civic activism, shared patriotism, and national pride. It does not lecture, It does not demand, and it does not overcomplicate. It evokes a strong emotional resonance and inspires a collective sense of South African optimism.
“Anchored in this optimism, the logo will come to life during the Local Government Elections as a shared national asset belonging to all South Africans,” said Moepya.
The IEC also announced the launch of its podcast channel, which it said is intended to improve transparency, broaden access to information, and strengthen civic education.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo outlined key milestones in the run-up to the elections, including a national voter registration weekend set for 20 and 21 June 2026.
Approximately 24,000 registration stations will be opened across the country.
“The opening of registration stations ensures that every eligible South African has accessible opportunity to register, update their details and prepare to vote,” Mamabolo said.
He stressed that in local government elections, voters must register in the ward where they live, as there is no provision to vote elsewhere.
“There is no legal facility to vote outside of the voting station of registration,” he said.
Mamabolo said the IEC is recruiting and training about 70,000 electoral staff, balancing experienced leadership with younger recruits.
“The critical task at hand is blending supervisory experience and youthful energy to bring about hopefully a joyful day of electoral festivity on the date still to be proclaimed as election day,” he said.
He added that the Commission has upgraded its technology systems, including fixing issues that affected voter management devices in previous elections.
“The suboptimal application coding that affected VMD performance in the previous general election has now been redressed,” Mamabolo confirmed.
Independent ICT auditors will conduct stress testing, code reviews and verification processes ahead of the registration weekend to ensure system reliability and security.
The IEC says the total number of registered political parties in the country now stands at 508, following the registration of 20 new parties between October 2025 and February 2026.
Of these, 299 are registered nationally, while 209 operate at provincial, district or metropolitan level.
Mamabolo said the Commission expects more than 100,000 candidates to contest the elections, exceeding the 95,000 recorded in 2021.
“Given the projected number of candidates, we encourage all prospective independent candidates and political parties to prepare the nomination documents and other requirements timeously,” he said.
How to Register Online:
You can complete the process in a few minutes using the IEC Online Voter Registration Portal: https://www.elections.org.za/pw/
Deadline: Online registration remains open until the date the election is officially proclaimed (gazetted).
Voter Registration Weekend: 20–21 June 2026 at all voting stations.
Where to Vote: In local elections, you must vote at the specific voting station where you are registered.
Registration Status: You can check if you are already registered by SMSing your ID number to 32810 (cost R1.00) or using the IEC mobile app.