The African People’s Convention (APC) has registered to contest the upcoming local government elections in 58 municipalities across seven provinces, APC president Themba Godi confirmed on 29 August 2026. The party’s plan excludes the Western Cape, meaning no APC candidates are currently slated for Cape Town or any municipality in the province.
Godi, speaking to SABC News, said the party prioritised capacity over reach and allowed provincial structures to choose where to focus their campaigns. The APC first signalled its coalition ambitions in April 2026, when Godi said the party was preparing to enter coalition governments in hung municipalities.
The announcement comes amid a surge in party registrations nationally. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reported in late July 2026 that 620 political parties were on its register, up from 508 at the start of the year. IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo cautioned that registration alone does not guarantee a place on the ballot.
That you are registered is not automatic that you will contest the elections.
Mamabolo said parties must still submit candidate lists, acceptance forms, and prescribed deposits before they can contest. As of late July, 76 parties and 39 independent candidates had begun using the IEC’s Online Candidate Nomination System, while 238 parties and aspirant independents had received training on it.
Godi framed the APC’s campaign around service delivery failures and poor municipal leadership.
People are not getting the services that they deserve, and all of this is about leadership because if the leadership is poor, if the leadership is corrupt, they will not be able to serve the interests of people beyond their own interests.
He also confirmed the party’s openness to coalition arrangements.
We are more than willing and are preparing ourselves to be part of any coalition.
The APC’s absence from the Western Cape means voters in Cape Town, the Cape Flats, and surrounding municipalities will not see the party on their ballots unless the party expands its plan before the nomination deadline. The local government elections are scheduled for 4 November 2026.
Whether the APC meets all IEC nomination requirements in the 58 municipalities it has targeted remains unconfirmed. Cape Flats News will check with the IEC for updated candidate nomination data ahead of the final certification cut-off.