CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — As preparations intensify for the Cape Town 2026 municipal elections, various political parties and independent candidates have officially signed the Electoral Code of Conduct. The commitment ensures that the upcoming November local government polls in the Western Cape will be conducted peacefully, freely, and fairly, serving as a mutual pledge among the parties, the voters, and the Electoral Commission.
With a highly competitive landscape featuring 106 political parties and 33 independent candidates contesting across the Western Cape, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) emphasizes the critical need for all participants to adhere strictly to the prescripts of the code.
Logistical preparations are already in full swing. Michael Hendrickse, the Western Cape Electoral Officer, noted that the IEC is currently reviewing sample ballots with political parties. “We need to start printing from Monday,” Hendrickse explained, highlighting the tight timeline to ensure all printed ballots are distributed to their respective voting stations on time for the elections.
While the contesting candidates are actively vying for voter support, they have uniformly committed to responsible and ethical campaigning. Reagen Allen, a Democratic Alliance (DA) representative, urged all participating groups to maintain a peaceful environment. “We are calling on political parties to ensure that they do not ultimately advocate for violence, that they are tolerant towards other political parties, and that they respect the citizens,” Allen stated.
Echoing the sentiment of democratic freedom, African National Congress (ANC) Regional Secretary Mvusi Mdala emphasized the historical context of the nation’s voting rights. “We never struggled for people to choose one political party,” Mdala said. “Multi-party democracy has always been what we fought for and will continue to ensure that it is respected.”
The significance of the upcoming polls was further highlighted by Lusindiso Sixishe, a South African Communist Party (SACP) representative, who reflected on the historical struggles for voting rights. “Many decades ago, people were not actually able to exercise their democratic right,” Sixishe noted. “What we are saying is this is actually a right that all of us should cherish with both hands.”
For some organizations, the pledge is simply a formalization of existing internal values. Suzette Little of the GOOD party pointed out that the principles of the code are already deeply embedded in their organizational framework. “The pledge that you see here today is written in our party constitution, about our conduct, about what we must represent, how we serve the people,” Little explained. “And so it’s not something new to us.”
Independent voices also echoed the commitment to genuine public service. Thurston Cooper, an independent candidate for Ward 42, focused on accountability. “I’m basically committing to being true to the people and what the people wanted, and not just making promises, but just being there,” Cooper said.
To ensure these commitments are upheld, the Electoral Code of Conduct Observer Commission (ECOC) has confirmed it is fully prepared to monitor the run-up to the November polls. Lionel Louw of the ECOC stressed the importance of maintaining a respectful environment to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
“We want the campaigning to be done in a manner where there is respect amongst the parties themselves and respect for the electorate,” Louw said. He warned against any disruptive behavior, adding that participants must “not intimidate media, intimidate voters, or intimidate other parties.”
With the code of conduct signed and observers ready, the IEC is set to commence the physical printing of the ballot papers next week, marking a major milestone in the final countdown to the 2026 municipal elections.
