IEC: 508 registered political parties in SA

With about a year to go until the local government elections, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said there were 508 registered political parties in the country.

At least 62 of them were registered after last year’s elections.

This was revealed during the IEC’s media briefing in Centurion on Tuesday, where it updated the public on its preparedness for the upcoming elections.

READ: IEC ready to 'administer the election on the 1st Wednesday in November' 2026

IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said the commission expects to register even more parties as the elections edge closer.

"In preparation for next year’s elections, the commission has started a series of information and liaison sessions with unrepresented political parties, [and] aspirant independent candidates to share information on, among other things, the requirements to contest, how votes are translated into seats and how to go about to register a party."