Parliament, Friday, 28 November 2025 – The portfolio committees on Home Affairs and of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs today received a briefing in the joint meeting from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on preparations and readiness for the 2026 Local Government.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Mosa Chabane, congratulated the newly elected IEC Commissioners, Mr Mosotho Moepya, Judge Dhaya Pillay and Ms Joyce Pitso. Mr Chabane said the joint meeting was necessary, first and foremost, to engage on the strengths and particularly the weaknesses highlighted in the IEC report on the 2024 General Elections.
He said the meeting also created an opportunity to find ways to help with IEC improve in areas it is doing well to ensure that it continues to enjoy credibility and the trust of all South Africans.
The IEC briefed the joint meeting on a range of key elections issues, including the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ announcement of the date of the forthcoming elections, voting stations, a national planning indaba, and national and provincial voter registration training.
The problem of voter apathy was highlighted as a concern during the joint engagements, attributed largely to the attitudes of voters and related to poor service delivery, rising unemployment and corruption, among other things. However, the joint meeting acknowledged that these elements are not within the IEC’s control.
Members of the committees encouraged the IEC to work towards the necessary legislation that would enable combining national, provincial and local government elections. Legislation around voter registration must also be finalised, the committees said.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the two committees are in the forefront in supporting the IEC. He urged the IEC to keep liaising with all political parties to manage elections. He also asked the IEC to ensure that every concern raised by a political party or stakeholder receives the attention it deserves until it is satisfactorily addressed.
The Chairpersons also emphasised the importance of continuing joint meetings, including with the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration. The committees appreciated the continuous collaboration between the Department of Home Affairs and the IEC during elections for extending working time for the people to get IDs. The committees urged the IEC to collaborate with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that it maintains its credibility.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE, AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
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