IEC rejects ANC claims of technical glitch over candidate submissions

The IEC has ruled out any additional opportunity for political parties or independent candidates to capture nominations after the August 28 deadline, following concerns raised by the ANC.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has rejected the possibility of giving the ANC additional time to capture outstanding candidates after the party said technical problems with the Commission's online system affected some of its entries for the November 4 local government elections.

The Commission said it had not allowed, and did not intend to allow, any political party or independent candidate an additional opportunity to capture candidates after nominations closed at 5 pm on Friday, August 28.

This follows the ANC’s announcement that technical problems with the Commission’s candidate-capture system had affected a small number of its entries on the day nominations closed.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the party had successfully submitted the “overwhelming majority” of its candidates before the August 28 deadline.

“As a result, a small number of the Movement's entries are being finalised together with the Commission,” she said.

She described the matter as technical and administrative and said it was being handled through the Commission's established processes.

However, the IEC said on Tuesday that no party or independent candidate would be given an opportunity to capture candidates after the nomination deadline.

“The Commission wishes to clarify that it has not allowed any party, nor does it intend to allow any party or independent candidate an additional capturing opportunity beyond the close of candidate nomination on Friday, 28 August 2026 at 17h00,” it said.

The Commission said matters relating to the intricacies of the candidate nomination process would instead be discussed through the National Political Liaison Committee, comprising parties represented in the National Assembly.

The IEC also said its Online Candidate Nomination System remained available throughout the nomination process, including on the day nominations closed.

Although the official nomination period began on Proclamation Day on August 7, the Commission said it had made the candidate nomination system available from June 21.

It said this was done to ensure contestants had “sufficient and uninterrupted use of the system ahead of the deadline”.

The ANC had expressed confidence in the Electoral Commission and the integrity of the electoral process, saying it would not conduct the matter in the media while the Commission continued with its work.