South African By-Elections
Discover how local government works. Learn about wards, councillors, and by-elections with easy, non-partisan civic education. Understand what a ward is, how by-elections work, and how local government affects your daily life. Accessible, non-partisan civic education.
By-elections are an essential part of South Africa’s local democracy. They take place when a ward councillor’s seat becomes vacant between regular municipal elections, ensuring that every community continues to have a representative in council. Yet many voters are unsure what a by-election is, why it happens, or how it affects their ward.
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Futurelect provides clear, accessible, and non-partisan information to help you understand how by-elections work, who can participate, and why they matter for local service delivery and accountability. Whether it’s a change in leadership, a vacancy in your ward, or simply a desire to understand your local government better, this guide explains everything you need to know in one place, so you can stay informed, empowered, and confident about the processes that shape your community.
FAQs About By-Elections
What is a by-election? A by-election is an election held between regular elections to fill a vacant seat on a municipal council. In practice, this almost always means choosing a new ward councillor for a specific ward when that ward’s seat becomes vacant.
When is a ward by-election held? A ward by-election is held when a ward councillor’s seat becomes vacant. This usually happens if the councillor: Resigns Dies Is expelled from the council or loses their qualification to serve Loses their seat because their party membership ends (for party-nominated ward councillors), or If the municipal council is dissolved. By law, the by-election must generally take place within 90 days of the vacancy or other triggering event, unless it is very close to the next regular municipal elections.
Who organises and runs by-elections? All by-elections are managed by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the independent constitutional body responsible for running elections at national, provincial, and municipal level.
Are by-elections only for municipal councils? Yes, in practice by-elections happen at municipal level, mainly to replace ward councillors. For national and provincial legislatures, when a seat becomes vacant it is normally filled from the party’s candidate list under the proportional representation system – no by-election is held.
Who can vote in a municipal by-election? You can vote in a municipal by-election if: You are a South African citizen; You are 18 or older on voting day; and You are registered as a voter in that specific ward’s voting district. You must be on the IEC’s voters’ roll for that ward — if you are registered in another area, you cannot vote in that ward’s by-election.
Do I need to register again for a by-election? Usually no. If you are already registered in the correct ward and voting district, your registration remains valid. You do not need to register again just because there is a by-election.
How soon must a by-election be held after a vacancy? A ward by-election must be held within 90 days of the vacancy or applicable triggering date.
How often are municipal elections, and how do by-elections fit in? Municipal elections (for all councillors in all councils) are held every five years. The last municipal elections were in 2021, and the next are expected between November 2026 and February 2027. By-elections happen whenever a vacancy arises during that five-year term and must be held within the legal time frames described above.
Where do I vote in a by-election? In municipal elections, including by-elections, you vote at the voting station in the voting district where you are registered.
What exactly am I voting for in a ward by-election? In a ward by-election, you are voting only for the ward councillor for that ward. Your vote decides which candidate (independent or nominated by a party) will represent your ward on the municipal council for the rest of the term. The broader council make-up (party representation from PR lists) normally stays the same unless enough by-elections or other changes alter the proportional balance over time.
How are vacancies for PR councillors filled if there is no by-election? If a PR councillor (a councillor elected from a party list, not directly from a ward) vacates their seat: The party that originally won that seat appoints the next eligible person on its PR list, and No by-election is held.
Why do by-elections matter? By-elections ensure that: Your community is continuously represented on the municipal council; Vacancies are filled in a lawful, democratic way; You can hold your local leadership accountable between the big five-year elections.
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