South Africa prepares for local elections with 23,000 voting stations

South Africa is advancing preparations for its upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 4. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has secured 23,696 voting stations, consisting of 22,668 permanent locations, 995 temporary sites, and 33 mobile stations. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo noted that the number of stations may adjust slightly as lease agreements are finalized.

In terms of candidate participation, the IEC reported that 136,790 candidates have met the statutory requirements to contest seats across the country’s metropolitan, district, and local municipalities. This includes 98,219 party-nominated candidates for wards, 38,571 candidates for proportional representation, and 621 independent ward candidates. In some large metropolitan areas, over 55 parties are contesting, which may result in extended ballot papers.

The IEC is also managing the recruitment and training of election officials, including 23,696 presiding officers and 29,964 deputy presiding officers. To ensure election integrity, the commission is working with external auditors to validate its results system, which political parties will be permitted to test between October 5 and October 12.