The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has begun hosting a series of orientation workshops across all nine provinces aimed at assisting registered political parties and independent candidates with the use of the Online Candidate Nomination System (OCNS) ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections in November.
The workshops officially commenced on Tuesday, 7 July, in Limpopo and will be followed by provincial sessions leading up to Election Day.
In a statement, the Commission outlined the benefits of the workshops.
“Participants will learn how to capture candidate and supporter information, pay election deposits electronically, and receive early feedback on the voter registration status of candidates and supporters before the official nomination period opens,” the IEC stated.
The Commission further invited key stakeholders to attend a session demonstrating the functionality of the OCNS, which will be held in Gauteng.
“This is to guide the candidate nomination process and avoid last-minute challenges. The OCNS, which became operational on 21 June 2026, enables registered political parties and prospective independent candidates to prepare in advance for the nomination process. The system is an official platform that enables political parties and independent candidates to capture and manage candidate lists, upload supporting documentation, and process payments for elections,” the Commission explained.
The IEC concluded by reaffirming its commitment to strengthening electoral governance through various initiatives leading up to the elections.
