Skip to content
Mandate SA — home
Search
Find my wardHow we work
Theme

Coverage and limits

What the electoral record holds

Counted from the published record when this page is opened. Each election and ballot says at what detail its results are held and from which official files; what is captured but not yet loaded, and what is missing, is a dated register entry naming what was searched and the source that would fill it. Nothing missing is shown as zero, and nothing is estimated.

Elections
12
By-election days
191
Recorded
20
Partial
9
Missing
8

Elections and ballots

Latest first. Status: recorded from approved official loads; partial where the source leaves a field unstated.

Coverage by election and ballotCounted from approved runs when this page was opened
ElectionBallotStatusRecordsGranularityLimits
2024 National and Provincial Elections29 May 2024nationalRecordedballots 1 · results 214voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2024 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 213voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2024 National and Provincial ElectionsregionalRecordedballots 9 · results 213voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2021 Local Government Elections1 November 2021district prRecordedballots 44 · results 18 205 · seat allocations in election 1 490as published (voting district or area)Votes cast are the sum of valid and spoilt votes (the files give the parts). Contestants are listed in the files' order (alphabetical), not ballot-paper order. Seats are not in these files and are not shown.
2021 Local Government Electionslocal prRecordedballots 213 · results 23 147 · seat allocations in election 1 490as published (voting district or area)Votes cast are the sum of valid and spoilt votes (the files give the parts). Contestants are listed in the files' order (alphabetical), not ballot-paper order. Seats are not in these files and are not shown.
2021 Local Government ElectionswardPartialballots 4 468 · results 23 147 · seat allocations in election 1 490as published (voting district or area)Ward candidates are not named (party-level results file). Votes cast are the sum of valid and spoilt votes (the files give the parts). Contestants are listed in the files' order (alphabetical), not ballot-paper order. Seats are not in these files and are not shown.
2019 National and Provincial Elections8 May 2019nationalRecordedballots 1 · results 214voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2019 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 213voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2016 Local Government Elections3 August 2016local prRecordedballots 213 · results 213voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded).
2016 Local Government ElectionswardPartialballots 4 392 · results 4 392voting districts summed per ward (source: voting-district level)Ward candidates are not named (party-level results file). Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded). These are the 2016 wards. Ward codes were reissued at each delimitation, so a 2016 ward is not the 2021 ward with the same number and is not drawn on today's map.
2014 National and Provincial Elections7 May 2014nationalRecordedballots 1 · results 235voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2014 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 234voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2011 Local Government Elections18 May 2011local prRecordedballots 234 · results 234voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded).
2011 Local Government ElectionswardPartialballots 4 277 · results 4 277voting districts summed per ward (source: voting-district level)Ward candidates are not named (party-level results file). Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded). These are the 2011 wards. Ward codes were reissued at each delimitation, so a 2011 ward is not the 2021 ward with the same number and is not drawn on today's map.
2009 National and Provincial Elections22 April 2009nationalPartialballots 1 · results 266voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)Registered voters are not stated for some or all results.
2009 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 257voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2006 Local Government Elections1 March 2006local prRecordedballots 237 · results 237voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded).
2006 Local Government ElectionswardPartialballots 3 895 · results 3 895voting districts summed per ward (source: voting-district level)Ward candidates are not named (party-level results file). Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded). These are the 2006 wards. Ward codes were reissued at each delimitation, so a 2006 ward is not the 2021 ward with the same number and is not drawn on today's map.
2004 National and Provincial Elections14 April 2004nationalRecordedballots 1 · results 279voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2004 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 270voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
2000 Local Government Elections5 December 2000local prRecordedballots 237 · results 237voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded).
2000 Local Government ElectionswardPartialballots 3 754 · results 3 754voting districts summed per ward (source: voting-district level)Ward candidates are not named (party-level results file). Not loaded in this milestone: ward ballots (each ward of this delimitation would need its own place record), the district council (DC 40%) ballots (the file does not name the district a municipality belongs to), and district-management-area ballots. Their voting-district rows are in the official file (SHA-256 recorded). These are the 2000 wards. Ward codes were reissued at each delimitation, so a 2000 ward is not the 2021 ward with the same number and is not drawn on today's map.
1999 National and Provincial Elections2 June 1999nationalRecordedballots 1 · results 805voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
1999 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialRecordedballots 9 · results 805voting districts summed per municipal area (source: voting-district level)—
1994 National and Provincial Elections27 April 1994nationalPartialballots 1 · results 10 · seat allocations in election 46as published (voting district or area)Votes cast and spoilt are not stated by the source for some or all results. Registered voters are not stated for some or all results.
1994 National and Provincial ElectionsprovincialPartialballots 9 · results 9 · seat allocations in election 46as published (voting district or area)Votes cast and spoilt are not stated by the source for some or all results. Registered voters are not stated for some or all results.

Boundary versions and comparability

Each election sits on the municipal delimitation in force on its polling day. Areas of different delimitations are never treated as the same area.

Boundaries by election

The delimitation each election's areas belong to, and whether its boundaries are held

Boundary versionsDelimitation = the latest local election on or before polling day
ElectionDelimitationBoundaries held
2024 National and Provincial Elections2021 wards and municipalitiesMunicipalities 2021 (MDB), Provinces (MDB, as in force for the 2021 local elections)
2021 Local Government Elections2021 wards and municipalitiesMunicipalities 2021 (MDB), Provinces (MDB, as in force for the 2021 local elections), Wards 2021 (MDB)
2019 National and Provincial Elections2016 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2016 Local Government Elections2016 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2014 National and Provincial Elections2011 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2011 Local Government Elections2011 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2009 National and Provincial Elections2006 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2006 Local Government Elections2006 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2004 National and Provincial Elections2000 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
2000 Local Government Elections2000 wards and municipalitiesNot held: areas listed by name and code only
1999 National and Provincial ElectionsPre-2000 structures (no delimitation on record)Not held: areas listed by name and code only
1994 National and Provincial ElectionsPre-2000 structures (no delimitation on record)Not held: areas listed by name and code only

What may be compared

By level, for elections of the same type

2024 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

2021 Local Government Elections

Nationally and by province: every other local government election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no other election on the same delimitation.

2019 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

2016 Local Government Elections

Nationally and by province: every other local government election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no other election on the same delimitation.

2014 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

2011 Local Government Elections

Nationally and by province: every other local government election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no other election on the same delimitation.

2009 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

2006 Local Government Elections

Nationally and by province: every other local government election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no other election on the same delimitation.

2004 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

2000 Local Government Elections

Nationally and by province: every other local government election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no other election on the same delimitation.

1999 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

1994 National and Provincial Elections

Nationally and by province: every other national and provincial election. By municipality: no other election on the same delimitation. By ward: no ward ballot.

Province boundaries are taken as in force on each polling day; the record holds no province boundary history, so changes between elections are not adjusted.

By-elections, candidates, seats, boundaries and what is not on the record

Each entry is counted from the record or is a dated register entry saying what was searched and what would close it. Nothing here is estimated or filled in.

  • RecordedMunicipal by-elections · term lge-2021

    days 107 · wards 311 · candidates 1 812 · elected 311

    First 2022-02-02, last 2026-06-24. Vacancy reasons are not published with the results.

  • RecordedMunicipal by-elections · term lge-2016

    days 84 · wards 319 · candidates 1 703 · elected 317

    First 2016-11-09, last 2021-05-19. Vacancy reasons are not published with the results.

  • Not yet heldLocal government elections · lge-2026

    Scheduled (proclaimed 7 August 2026); not held. No results exist; nothing is recorded or estimated.

    Would fill it: IEC results portal, electoral event 1887, once official results are declared.

  • Captured, not loadedLocal government elections · lge-2000 – lge-2016 · district pr

    District council (DC 40%) and district-management-area ballots of 2000–2016 are in the captured voting-district files, validated (valid-vote totals of 2016 and 2011 equal the IEC's national summaries) but not loaded: the record has no district places of those vintages to hold them.

    Searched: The captured files (data/raw/iec/lge-2000 … lge-2016): lines present and summed. The record: district places exist for the 2021 delimitation only.

    Would fill it: MDB district and local municipality lists per delimitation (B2), then the historical adapter as district_pr ballots.

    Acquisition item A0

  • Not on the recordMunicipal by-elections · before 2016-11

    Municipal by-elections held between the 2000, 2006, 2011 and 2016 local elections (December 2000 – August 2016) are not in the record.

    Searched: IEC by-election results dashboard: lists only the 2016 and 2021 terms (MapsJason/<term>/ByElections.js; 2011 and 2006 return 404). Per-day result files for electoral-event ids 53–452 (below the oldest listed, 453): all 404 (probe of 2026-10-09). IEC results portal downloads: no by-election files for earlier terms.

    Would fill it: IEC annual reports (by-election tables) or a request to the IEC for its by-election archive (2000–2016).

    Acquisition item C1

  • Not on the recordCandidates · local elections 2000–2021

    Named ward and PR candidates of the general local elections are not in the record: the IEC results files give ward votes by party only.

    Searched: IEC results files 2000–2021 (party-level ward lines). IEC candidate-list pages (2024 lists only are linked).

    Would fill it: IEC LGE candidate lists (per municipality) for 2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2000.

    Acquisition item B4

  • Not on the recordCandidates · national and provincial 1994–2019

    Party lists of the 1994–2019 national and provincial elections are not in the record (2024 lists are).

    Would fill it: IEC final candidate lists per election (Government Gazette / IEC publications).

    Acquisition item A3

  • Not on the recordSeat allocations · 1999–2019 national and provincial; 2000–2016 councils

    Seat allocations are recorded for 1994 (National Assembly and legislatures) and the 2021 councils only.

    Would fill it: IEC seat calculation reports per election (NPEPublicReports/<id>/Seat Calculation; LGEPublicReports/<id>/Seat Calculation Detail).

    Acquisition item A1

  • Not on the recordBoundaries and lineage · delimitations before 2021

    Ward and municipal boundaries are held for the 2021 delimitation only. Earlier elections' areas are listed by name and code (as the IEC lists them) and never drawn on the 2021 map.

    Would fill it: MDB ward and municipal layers per delimitation (2000, 2006, 2011, 2016).

    Acquisition item B1

  • Not on the recordBoundaries and lineage · ward lineage across delimitations

    No official crosswalk between wards of different delimitations is on the record, so a ward is never compared with a ward of another delimitation.

    Would fill it: MDB delimitation records; computed overlap only once both boundary layers are loaded, and labelled as computed.

    Acquisition item B3

  • Not on the recordMunicipal office-holders

    Mayors, executive mayors, speakers, whips, mayoral committees and PR councillors are not in the record.

    Searched: IEC: publishes ward councillors only (current list and by-election results).

    Would fill it: Each municipality's council resolutions or official website; provincial gazettes (MEC notices); SALGA directory (secondary).

    Acquisition item C2

  • PartialLegislature rosters

    Rosters of the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Northern Cape legislatures are not captured (SOURCES §5.3); no roster is historical (each is as at its retrieval date).

    Would fill it: The legislatures' official member lists; Hansard and gazetted swearing-in lists for earlier terms.

    Acquisition item C3

  • Not on the recordParty affiliation changes

    Changes of party by an office-holder are not recorded unless a dated official roster states the new party.

    Would fill it: Legislature rosters over time; IEC floor-crossing records (2003, 2005, 2007 windows).

    Acquisition item C4

  • Not measured by designNot measured

    Not measured by design, so never shown as a figure: voter demographics (results are counted by voting district, never by voter), predictions and projections, media mentions and sentiment, and a candidate's personal vote inferred from a party-list result.

Acquisition register

Official sources that would fill the gaps, in priority order. A proposed source is unverified until a capture (URL, date, SHA-256) is recorded.

Acquisition registerA: same publisher and portal as files already captured · B: new publisher item · C: needs a request or many sources
ItemGapAuthoritative sourceStatusNext safe step
A0District council (DC 40%) and district-management-area ballots, 2000–2016 local electionsAlready captured: the IEC voting-district files of 2000, 2006, 2011 and 2016 (SOURCES §4.1, §10.1)validated · local filesCapture the MDB district/local municipality lists for each delimitation (B2), validate them against the files' municipality codes, then load as district_pr ballots with the historical adapter. Assigning locals to districts by today's map would invent history.
A1Council seat allocations 2000–2016IEC "Seat Calculation Detail" reports (LGEPublicReports/<event>/Seat Calculation Detail)proposedProbe the portal for each event id; capture with URL, date and SHA-256; extend the 2021 seat-report reader.
A2National Assembly and legislature seats 1999–2019IEC "Seat Calculation" reports (NPEPublicReports/<event>/Seat Calculation)proposedCapture per election; reuse the 2024 report reader; reconcile seat totals with the Constitution's 400 and each legislature's size.
A3National and provincial candidate lists 1994–2019IEC final candidate lists per electionproposedCapture per election; reuse the 2024 list reader; identity resolution through the editorial review queue, never by name alone.
B1Ward boundaries of the 2016 and 2011 delimitationsMunicipal Demarcation Board (producer and custodian)proposedCapture each delimitation's ward layer; load as its own boundary set, valid for its term only.
B2Municipal and district lists per delimitation (2000, 2006, 2011, 2016)MDB and gazetted section 12 noticesproposedCapture; validate codes and names against the IEC files; load district places per vintage (unblocks A0).
B3Official ward overlap or lineage between delimitationsMDB delimitation records — no official crosswalk identifiedproposedRecord one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-one relations only where a source states them; geometric overlap only once both delimitations' boundaries are loaded, labelled as computed.
B4Named ward and PR candidates of the general local elections 2000–2021IEC candidate lists per municipalityproposedCapture per election; candidates are never inferred from results files.
C1By-elections before November 2016IEC by-election archive (annual reports, or a request to the IEC)proposedSearched: the dashboard lists the 2016 and 2021 terms only; event ids 53–452 return 404 (probe of 2026-10-09).
C2Mayors, speakers, whips, mayoral committees, PR councillorsEach municipality's council resolutions; provincial gazettesproposedPer-municipality sources with their own terms; the IEC publishes ward councillors only.
C3Rosters of the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Northern Cape legislaturesThe legislatures' official member listsproposedSOURCES §5.3 records why each capture failed (no roster page; TLS chain; template error).
C4Party affiliation changes of office-holdersDated official rosters over time; floor-crossing records (2003, 2005, 2007)proposedA change is recorded only where a dated official roster states the new party.
B52024 national and provincial results by wardIEC: the 2024 voting-district-to-ward table, or the 2024 voting-district boundaries (the captured 2024 results files carry no ward column)proposedMeasured 2026-10-17: of 23 292 voting districts in the 2024 national file, 22 977 share a number with a 2021 voting district on the record, 315 are new and 170 of 2021 are absent. A shared number does not prove an unchanged area, so nothing is summed to wards until the IEC's own 2024 ward assignment (or its 2024 voting-district areas against the 2021 wards) is captured.
B6Voting-station coordinates (2021 and 2026)IEC: an official station location file (the results files and the published 2026 lists carry no coordinates)proposedRequest the station coordinates from the IEC with their terms of use; never geocode a free-text address or a station name. Until then stations are found through their voting district and ward (VOTING_STATION_LOCATIONS_AUDIT).

Every figure on the site links to its source file and ingestion run; results are never corrected by Mandate SA. A confirmed problem in a published result becomes a public correction notice beside the figures, and the figures change only through a new, approved load. Back to the elections