New municipal councils must hold their first meetings within 14 days after they are declared elected, according to government guidelines for the period after the 2026 Local Government Elections.
According to SAnews, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) was expected to announce the final results on Sunday, 8 November. The guidelines set out what must happen once the results are declared.
The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG), National Treasury and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) signed the joint guidelines on 30 September 2026. The government said they cover setting up councils, electing office-bearers, coalition deals and handovers.
Under the Municipal Structures Act, the municipal manager must call the first council meeting. If there is no municipal manager, a person named by the provincial MEC for local government must do it.
At that meeting, councillors will elect the Speaker, mayors, executive mayors and deputy mayors where needed. Local councils must also name their members on district councils within 14 days after the results are declared.
The guidelines say tied votes for office-bearers can be settled by tossing a coin or drawing names. This must be done in the open. Councils may meet in person, online or both, if the rules allow it.
Coalition talks are expected in councils where no party wins an outright majority. After the 2021 elections, the number of coalition-led municipalities rose to 76, according to SAnews.
The three bodies said coalition agreements are political deals between parties. They said these deals cannot override the Constitution or laws such as the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Parties were urged to finish their coalition deals as early as possible.
Municipal managers and officials must stay neutral and may not take part in coalition talks. Council cars, offices, staff and money may not be used for party politics or coalition talks, the guidelines say.
Outgoing leaders must also prepare two handover reports. The Speaker and mayor will lead a political report on the past term. The municipal manager and Chief Financial Officer will lead a report on the administration and finances.
The administrative report must include cash, debts owed, loans and audit results for the past three financial years. It must also list unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful spending. Both reports must reach provincial departments, National Treasury, DCoG and SALGA before the first council meeting.
The guidelines also warn councils about money problems. “Municipalities must prioritise the payment of creditors, including Eskom and Water Boards, to avoid service disruptions and financial instability,” the document said.
It said municipalities with unfunded budgets or poor audit results may face interventions under the law. Municipal funds may not be used to pay for political party activities, including caucuses.
Officials who approve unlawful spending could face financial misconduct proceedings under the MFMA, the guidelines say. The three bodies said fraud and corruption must be reported to the authorities without delay.
Under the Municipal Systems Act, each new council must review its system of delegations within one year of taking office. Municipal managers must table a plan for this review at the first council meeting.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SAnews.gov.za. Image: GCIS via SAnews.gov.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.