The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is set to allocate Political Election Broadcast (PEB) slots to political parties and independent candidates for the 2026 local government elections. This move aims to guarantee equitable access to the airwaves in what is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested local government elections in decades. The allocation process will be conducted under the Municipal Elections Broadcasting Regulations.
The allocation of PEB slots follows the receipt of the final candidate list from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Icasa's Elections Committee chairperson, Councillor Ntombiza Sithole, emphasized the importance of this process in promoting a diversity of political voices. The PEB slots provide a platform for political parties and independent candidates to communicate their policies and proposed programs directly to voters.
The PEB slots will be broadcast free of charge by designated licensees, with parties and independents responsible for producing and submitting their own material in line with prescribed requirements. Icasa reiterated its commitment to transparency and fairness, noting that equitable access to broadcast platforms is central to strengthening democracy and voter choice.
A total of 546 political parties out of 732 registered parties will contest the 2026 Local Government Elections, a sharp rise from the 325 parties that participated in 2021. This significant increase in participation is expected to make the elections highly competitive. The high stakes are attributed to service delivery failures gripping municipalities nationwide.
The elections will see a large number of candidates vying for council seats. A total of 142,072 candidates have been nominated to contest 10,526 council seats across the country. Major cities such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, eThekwini, Ekurhuleni, and Cape Town will have a substantial number of parties on the ballot.
The Municipal Elections Broadcasting Regulations govern the allocation process and provide for equal opportunity for all participants. Icasa's allocation process aims to promote fair treatment of all contesting parties and independents. The regulator emphasized that the PEB slots are a crucial aspect of the electoral process.
The 2026 local government elections are scheduled to take place on November 4, 2026. With the allocation of PEB slots, Icasa has taken a significant step towards ensuring that all parties have a fair chance to reach voters. The elections are expected to be a critical moment for South Africa's democracy, with many voters looking to hold municipalities accountable for service delivery failures.
Key points
- Icasa allocates free Political Election Broadcast slots to ensure fair access to airwaves for South Africa's 2026 local government elections.
- A total of 546 political parties will contest the 2026 Local Government Elections, a sharp rise from the 325 parties that participated in 2021.
- The elections are expected to be highly competitive, with 142,072 candidates vying for 10,526 council seats across the country.
