South Africa declares 4 November 2026 public holiday for local elections

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared 4 November 2026 a nationwide public holiday to facilitate the local government elections. The decision, made under the Public Holidays Act, aims to support voter participation and minimize disruption to the school calendar, specifically regarding matric examinations, as many schools serve as voting stations.

Pre-election polling by Ipsos indicates a highly competitive political landscape. In Buffalo City, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reported a significant surge to 27% support, positioning them to challenge the traditional dominance of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

In the eThekwini metro, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, shows strong regional dominance with 55% support. Analysts note that with only 70% of eligible voters currently registered, the final outcome will likely depend on the ability of parties to mobilize undecided and unregistered voters.