IEC Orders Recount in Five Wards

The Independent Electoral Commission has ordered recounts in wards across four municipalities after 197 objections were lodged.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Elections

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The Independent Electoral Commission has ordered a recount of votes in five wards in Tshwane, Mangaung, Thaba Chweu and Breede Valley municipalities. The Commission received 197 objections, of which 54 were dismissed as being without merit.

Why it matters

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Mosotho Moepya said the assigned seats in the provisional results may change as a result of the recount. The outcome could alter seat allocations for parties that lodged disputes, including the ANC and the MK Party, across South Africa.

The Commission received 197 objections, of which 54 were dismissed under Section 65 as without merit and eight were withdrawn. Two disputes were found to have an impact on the results and have been dealt with, while the outcome of the recounts remains pending.

The players

Independent Electoral Commission

The Independent Electoral Commission is South Africa's body responsible for managing and overseeing national and provincial elections.

Mosotho Moepya

Mosotho Moepya is the Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission, responsible for the administration of South African elections.

Fikile Mbalula

Fikile Mbalula is the secretary-general of the African National Congress, South Africa's governing party.

The details

The IEC recounted votes in ward 57 at the Village Montessori School voting station and ward 102 at the PAT Projects voting station, both in Tshwane. Recounts are also affecting wards 19 in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, ward 4 in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality and ward 12 in Breede Valley Municipality.

7 November 2026: IEC recount order reported and objections under investigation.

Big Picture

Under Section 65 of the Electoral Act, objections deemed without merit are dismissed, and the 54 rejections here apply that standard. The current recounts follow the procedure the IEC uses to resolve disputes before announcing final results.

Voters in the affected wards may see changes to the seats assigned in the provisional results once the recounts are completed. The IEC has said it will finalise objections before announcing the election results.

The takeaway

Election disputes are resolved through formal objection and recount procedures before results are declared final. Readers can follow the Commission's announcements for the outcome of the recounts in each affected ward.