Wait, where’s the ballot for the mayor? Yoh, there’s another step. 👀🇿🇦🗳️ Residents elect councillors. In municipalities with an executive mayor, the councillors then elect that mayor from among themselves. The executive mayor appoints the mayoral committee.

Parties can negotiate who gets which role. But who actually makes the appointments? 🇿🇦🗳️ When no party has a majority, choosing who to support for mayor can be a big part of coalition talks.

They’ve agreed to govern together. But what have they agreed to do? 👀🇿🇦🗳️ When no party has a majority, agreements made after the election can shape how your municipality is governed.

Whether it’s a big city or a smaller town, elected councillors must come together to form the new council. And if no party wins enough seats to govern alone? Yoh, that’s where negotiations and possible coalitions come in.

You came for election results. Suddenly, it’s a maths lesson. Yoh. 🇿🇦🗳️ Winning ward seats is only part of the picture. Those seats already count towards a party’s overall total. Proportional representation helps make the council reflect the support parties received from voters.

How does a vote become a seat in your municipal council? 🇿🇦🗳️ For ward seats, the candidate with the most votes wins. Other councillors enter through proportional representation, which helps make the council reflect the support political parties received from voters.

Something went wrong at a voting station. Does that mean the election was rigged? Not automatically. 🇿🇦🗳️ Voters can object to the conduct of election officials, party representatives, ward candidates or other people at the voting station.

What actually happens when you arrive at a voting station? 🇿🇦🗳️ An election official checks your identity and confirms that your name is on the voters’ roll. Your name is marked off and your thumb is marked with special ink before you receive your ballot papers.

Miss the deadline, miss the ballot? Yoh, timing matters. 🇿🇦🗳️ Getting your name on the ballot means completing the nomination process, submitting the required documents and meeting the deadline

Do you have to belong to a political party to become a councillor? Yoh, not necessarily. 🇿🇦🗳️ People who meet the requirements can stand as independent ward candidates or through a political party. Local government elections give people an opportunity to put themselves forward.

Your role in your community doesn’t begin and end on election day. 🇿🇦🗳️ Do you know when your ward committee meets or how to raise an issue? Finding out is a good place to start.

Knowing the difference helps you understand who is responsible when something happens in your municipality. Watch our local government episodes and share your Yoh Moment at futurelect.org/LGE2026. You could win an iPhone 17 worth up to R20 000. Terms and conditions apply.

Different positions. Different jobs. Crossing the line? Red card. 🇿🇦🗳️ Councillors make political decisions and provide oversight. Municipal officials manage the administration and implement lawful council decisions. #futurelect #LGE2026 #civiceducation

Download the Futurelect app, watch our local government episodes and share your Yoh Moment at futurelect.org/LGE2026. You could win an iPhone 17 worth up to R20 000. Terms and conditions apply. #futurelect #LGE2026 #civiceducation

Download the Futurelect app, watch our local government episodes and share your Yoh Moment at futurelect.org/LGE2026. You could win an iPhone 17 worth up to R20 000. Terms and conditions apply. #futurelect #LGE2026 #civiceducation