Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged South African women to step into leadership roles as candidates for the upcoming local government elections, set for 4 November 2026. Hlabisa issued the call during an IFP Women’s Day celebration in Soweto on 9 August 2026, marking a push for greater gender representation in municipal councils.
Push For Representation In Governance
The call comes as the country gears up for local polls following a national registration drive that saw approximately 29 million people join the voters’ roll. Women currently account for 56% of those registered to vote, a statistic Hlabisa highlighted as a reason for women to demand a larger seat at the table.
The time to complain must be behind us now. We must mobilize every South African young and old and every woman who are the majority, that firstly avail yourself to become councillors, and secondly go take your protest to the ballot box.
This sentiment has been mirrored across political lines, with members of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) similarly advocating for systemic changes in municipal management. During their recent commemorations, members emphasised that female leadership is essential to tackling persistent service delivery failures at a local level.
Strategic Priorities For Municipal Stability
Onica Kwakwa, an ANCWL National Executive Committee member, noted that the focus must move beyond mere presence to active decision-making roles. She argued that women are uniquely positioned to manage the specific challenges facing communities today.
We know the challenges, and that is why we continue to say let us have women in the forefront leading municipalities, and we are also saying women must be given opportunities to be the ones who are leading as chief whips, as speakers and as MMCs.
The 2026 election cycle is particularly significant as it follows the establishment of the national Government of National Unity (GNU). Officials are prioritising candidate competency as a key metric for these polls, with Hlabisa having officially gazetted the 4 November election date on 7 August following the final registration weekend.
It remains unclear how many political parties will meet the target for female representation on their candidate lists. The author will check in with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in two weeks to review preliminary candidate data as submission deadlines approach.