The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has handed over the revised wards to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, following a successful ward delimitation process on 10 December 2025. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, delivered the keynote address on this occasion. This handover paves the way for the Electoral Commission (IEC) to commence with the review of voting districts to ensure that they are aligned with the revised wards.

The MDB conducts ward delimitation in terms of Schedule 1 of Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 (MSA). Wards are delimited every five years preceding the general elections of municipal councils., e.g. the last local government elections (LGE) were held in 2021, while the next such elections must be held before end January 2027.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of voters resulting in a proportional increase in number of wards in municipalities. This results in a change in the configuration (form) of wards in municipalities, among other things.  Wards also change due to population dynamics in different areas, especially the inward and outward migration of registered voters from one area to the other.

Critically, the MDB follows the ward delimitation criteria, which is provided for in legislation, and its mandate is espoused as follows:

• The MDB must avoid the splitting of communities as far as possible
• Create identifiable ward boundaries.
• Delimit wards that would enhance participatory democracy in local government.
• For each ward, the number of registered voters, may not vary by more than 15% from the norm; and
• Availability and location of a suitable place(s) for voting and counting, considering:
  • Communication and accessibility
  • Population density
  • Topography and characteristics
  • Number of voters entitled to vote in required timeframe.

For the 2026/27 LGE, there has been a slight increase in the overall number of councillors in the country, although there are variations from one province to the other.

In 2021, the MDB delimited 4,468 wards, and for 2026 (as things stand) the MDB will at the end, delimit 4,488 wards, a variation of 20 more wards, the majority of which are in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Comparison of wards by province between 2016 and 2026

The breakdown of the total number of wards per provinces is depicted below:

A few municipalities have experienced a marginal reduction in the number of wards, with a few also experiencing some increases.

Now that the wards are configured, community members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their newly established wards to better understand how boundary changes may affect their representation and voting stations ahead of LGE 2026/27.

“This event marks the culmination of an extensive and rigorous process that has required patience, cooperation, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders. Your voice is central to strengthening local governance and building communities we can all be proud to be associated with. Every ward. Every voice. Every voter count,” said Thabo Manyoni, Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board.

The MDB is humbled by the high level of community and stakeholder interest and participation, not only during the public participation phase of the process but also during the objection period. The MDB reports that all objections were considered, and that a number of changes were made based on the objections. Just like any process of this nature, not all objections were positively accepted. After they were subjected to the ward delimitation criteria some were found to be non-compliant e.g. some were found to propose unnecessary split to settlements or communities, non-compliance to the norm, or non-alignment to physical features.

In a bid to ensure widespread communication, the MDB will commence with the publication of final ward determinations in provincial gazettes starting from the week of 15 December 2025 onwards. Members of the public and stakeholders are encouraged to be on the lookout for the provincial gazettes. Provincial Gazettes, on publication will be obtainable from www.gpgwonline.gov.za. They will also be made available on the MDB website (www.demarcation.org.za) as soon as they are published. The communication programme will continue well into the new year, through the publication of adverts in different media platforms.  

During his acceptance of the wards, Mr Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of the IEC, said that today’s event marks a key step in our constitutionally mandated journey towards conducting the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.

“We welcome the handover of wards from the MDB, marking the completion of the 2024/25 ward delimitation cycle. This handover of the wards by the MDB represents the very bedrock upon which meaningful local representation is built. It ensures that communities are accurately and fairly represented, that population changes are reflected in political boundaries, and that the constitutional imperative of equal representation and vote holding equal value.”

Mr Moepya thanked the MDB for its work and South Africans for their meaningful engagement, from community consultations to thoughtful objections that helped shape credible, representative ward boundaries. “This collective effort is a testament to our commitment to participatory democracy,” he added.

The MDB and IEC call on all eligible voters to register to vote and actively participate in shaping the future of their local governance. This joint effort reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthen local democracy and promote civic participation throughout the electoral process.

Presenting the roadmap towards the elections, Sy Mamabolo, the CEO of IEC, said it would now review the impact of the new wards on the network of 23 000 voting districts to ensure that voters are registered in their correct wards. This will be followed by a project to re-register and communicate with voters whose registration is impacted by the new wards. “We remain committed to conducting free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the South African people and strengthen our democratic institution.”

Mr Mamabolo urged all registered voters to verify whether their voting districts have changed following the recent boundary readjustments. “Confirming your voting district is essential to ensure that you know precisely where to cast your vote and can participate confidently in the upcoming elections.”

Communities are once again requested to know their ward, which will be accessible on the MDB website, www.demarcation.org.za, and to register to vote at https://registertovote.elections.org.za/.

OUTSTANDING WARDS DUE TO LITIGATION:

• A total of 4,305 (95%) out of 4,488 wards have been finalised with 183 wards (5%) outstanding.
  
• Wards for four municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, namely Inkosi Langalibalele local Municipality, Alfred Duma Local Municipality, Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality, and Mkhambathini Local Municipality, are outstanding pending resolutions by the courts.
• The MDB stands ready to conclude the wards for all these municipalities as soon as court processes are concluded.

ISSUED BY THE MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION BOARD (MDB) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION (IEC) OF SOUTH AFRICA

ENQUIRIES

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