South Africa's IEC registers 620 parties for November local elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that the register of political parties for South Africa's local government elections has risen from 508 to 620. IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the surge reflects a wave of applications from organisations seeking to contest the municipal polls scheduled for 4 November.

The commission also outlined preparations for the final voter‑registration weekend on 1‑2 August, when nearly 24,000 voting stations across the country will be open from 08:00 to 17:00. More than 28 million South Africans are currently on the national voters’ roll, and the IEC is urging first‑time voters and those who have changed address to update their details before the elections, which are expected to be among the most competitive in recent years due to the enlarged party field.