Telkom Group has announced a R20 million partnership with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. South Africans will vote on 4 November 2026.
According to Telkom, the deal will use Openserve’s national fibre network as the main link for the digital systems the IEC needs. Openserve is part of the Telkom Group.
“South Africa’s elections are ultimately about people and their ability to participate in our democracy. Our role is behind the scenes, bringing trusted digital infrastructure and technical expertise to support the IEC as it carries out this important national responsibility,” said Serame Taukobong, Group Chief Executive Officer of Telkom.
Telkom said the partnership will draw on skills from across the group. The company said its engineers, technicians and technology specialists will work to keep networks running and systems connected during the election period.
Taukobong said Telkom has supported the country’s elections for more than 30 years. Taukobong said the new deal lets Telkom keep bringing its size, experience and technology to a setting where reliable connections matter.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo welcomed the support. Mamabolo said it strengthens the digital systems needed to run the local elections.
“We welcome Telkom’s partnership in enabling the digital infrastructure required to support the successful delivery of the forthcoming elections,” Mamabolo said.
“Reliable connectivity, including in remote areas, is essential to ensuring that geographical barriers do not impede eligible voters from exercising their democratic rights,” Mamabolo said.
Mamabolo also said the long partnership with Telkom continues to build the technology the IEC relies on to deliver credible elections.
Telkom said its role is limited to technology and is strictly non-partisan. The company said it does not count, check or decide votes. It also said it has no influence on election results.
The IEC stays fully in charge of running the elections, according to Telkom. This includes voting, protecting the fairness of the process and announcing the results.
The link between the two bodies goes back to South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. Telkom said it has provided connections and technology support in each election since then, as voting systems became more digital.
The company said voters on election day will likely not see the staff who watch over networks and fix connections. It said what matters is that the systems behind the vote work when they are needed.
Voters will go to the polls for the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Lifestyle & Tech. Image: Lifestyle & Tech. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Technology desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Werner Jacobs covers technology for Tzaneen Voice. Werner reports on mobile networks, data prices, internet access, smartphones, apps, AI, cybersecurity and South African tech companies. Each story explains what a new product, price change or policy means for ordinary users in South Africa.