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IEC gets just over R3 billion for 2026 local elections

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

The money includes a special appropriation of about R1 billion. It will pay for voter registration, logistics and other operating costs of the 2026 Local Government Elections, which the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will run.

Terry Tselane, a former IEC commissioner and vice chairperson, explained why the elections cost so much. He said the technology used is not cheap and needs a lot of resources.

Tselane said the voting machine now in use cost a lot of money. He said the fleet of machines must also be maintained.

He recalled that opening voting stations for a registration weekend a few years back cost about R360 million. He said that sum covered stations, infrastructure, electoral staff and stipends.

Key facts

Who
Terry Tselane (Former IEC Commissioner and Vice Chairperson); Independent Electoral Commission (election management body allocated the funding)
What
Budget allocations to the Independent Electoral Commission for the 2026 Local Government Elections total just over R3 billion, including about R1 billion in special appropriation, to support voter registration, logistics and other operational costs.
When
3 November 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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