THE Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced its plans to de-register 198 political parties from its official registration roll, including the South African Communist Party (SACP) and African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (ARETA), which was founded by Carl Niehaus in 2023 before joining the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

The IEC said the parties are not represented in any legislative body, have not contested general elections since they were registered, and did not renew their registration by January 31, 2025.

In a statement released on Friday, the IEC announced that there are currently 609 registered political parties in total, with 383 registered at the national level and the remaining 226 registered either provincially or at the municipal level.

“There are a number of benefits that accrue from registration as a party,” the IEC said.

The IEC noted these benefits include the protection of the party’s full name, abbreviation, and logo or symbol by the commission.

“In return, certain obligations are imposed on registered parties,” the commission said

Among those is that a party that is not represented in a municipal council, provincial legislature or the National Assembly must inform the commission of its continued existence.

This indication must be received by the IEC before the end of January each year.

The IEC said the party register currently contains 192 political parties that are not represented in any legislative body, have not contested general elections since they were registered, and did not renew their registration by January 31, 2025.

The commission further said, in terms of Section 17 of the Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996, given due notice in writing, to the 192 political parties of its intention to cancel their registration.

The parties have until March 24, 2025 to make representations.

“Given increased contestation in elections and the ever-increasing entrance of new political parties, it is crucial that the register of parties is kept current and those parties with no intention of contesting future elections are de-registered,” the IEC said.

The IEC also said it is important to correct the artificial size of the register and avoid unnecessary confusion for voters.

“Moreover, the cancellation of inactive parties will free the usage of names, abbreviated names and colour schemes for the logos of aspirant real contestants,” it said.

Last year in December it was reported that the SACP, which has always sided with the African National Congress (ANC), has decided to contest the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), independently.

This came after general secretary Solly Mapaila expressed disappointment with the ANC for joining hands with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

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IEC to de-register 198 political parties, including SACP and ARETA