ANC’s Historic Setback Reshapes South African Local Politics

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) finished first in the local elections, but its 32.5% share of the vote was its lowest result ever. The outcome represents a fall of about 14 percentage points from the party’s 2021 local-election performance. Although the ANC remains the country’s largest party, it failed to win an outright majority in any of the eight metropolitan municipalities. It nevertheless led in four, including Johannesburg, Mangaung and Buffalo City. The centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) placed second nationally with approximately 22.9% of the vote. It came first in Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane and secured a majority in Cape Town. The MK party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, ranked third nationally with around 9.9% and finished first in eThekwini. The results suggest voters have shifted toward the DA, MK and smaller parties, leaving the political landscape more fragmented. Because no party has secured a majority in several major cities, parties must now negotiate coalition arrangements to form local governments. The article notes that these alliances can be unstable, with internal disputes sometimes distracting administrations from basic service delivery. National coalition arrangements may also affect local negotiations, political analyst Daniel Silke told AFP. In Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, voters may prefer a DA-led administration working with centre-right ActionSA. However, Silke said the relationship between the two parties is marked by extreme animosity, raising doubts about whether such an arrangement can be achieved. The election therefore leaves parties facing difficult bargaining over who will govern, while the durability and effectiveness of the resulting coalitions remain uncertain.

South Africa’s November 4, 2026 local elections have weakened the long-standing dominance of the African National Congress (ANC) and ushered in a more fragmented political landscape. The ANC won about 30.8% of the vote, remaining the largest party but recording its worst performance to date. The Democratic Alliance (DA) received approximately 24.6%, while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party won about 9.8%. The results continue a shift already visible in the 2024 national elections, when the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. The article attributes the ANC’s declining support to corruption scandals, economic hardship, unemployment and persistent failures in municipal services, including water, electricity and infrastructure. With no party holding an outright majority in roughly 120 municipal councils, parties are negotiating coalitions. They have a legally prescribed 14-day period to form functioning administrations and decide on mayoral, council and other municipal leadership roles. Coalitions could give smaller parties greater influence and broaden participation in local governance, but they also risk instability. Political analyst Xolelwa Kashe-Katiya warns that hurried negotiations may produce fragile arrangements. Disagreements could delay budgets, infrastructure projects and policy implementation, with direct consequences for communities relying on municipal services. South Africa has experienced unstable coalitions before, underscoring the need for clear agreements and shared priorities. The DA’s stronger showing gives it greater bargaining power, while the MK Party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ActionSA and smaller parties add complexity; in some councils, smaller parties may determine who governs. The article concludes that the success of this political transition depends on whether coalitions can provide stable, effective local government. The ANC must rebuild public confidence, while opposition parties must show that electoral gains can translate into better governance and tangible improvements for residents. Political power increasingly depends on negotiation, cooperation and results rather than the ANC’s historical dominance.

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) suffered a substantial loss of support in municipal elections, putting it in a weaker position as parties negotiate to form city governments. With 99 percent of votes counted, the ANC had 31 percent nationally, compared with 25 percent for the Democratic Alliance (DA). The result was roughly 14 percentage points below the ANC’s performance in the 2021 local elections. Former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party finished third with about 10 percent, while numerous smaller parties shared the remaining votes. Final results were expected on Sunday evening. The ANC remained the country’s largest party but failed to win an outright majority in any of the eight major metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg and Pretoria. In many cities, no party received more than half the vote, so municipal governments will depend on coalition agreements. Parties have 14 days to negotiate before city councils are formed. The article links the ANC’s declining support to voter frustration with corruption, unemployment—above 34 percent—and poor provision of basic services such as water and electricity. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the result as “catastrophic,” while saying the party would not beg for coalition positions and must put its house in order. In Johannesburg, the DA led with about 35 percent, against 20 percent for the ANC. That result could give DA veteran Helen Zille a chance to become mayor, though the outcome depends on coalition negotiations. The DA said it would begin discussions with parties committed to clean and accountable government, tackling corruption, service delivery, the rule of law, and non-racialism.

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) suffered its worst-ever municipal election result, receiving less than 31% of the vote, according to final results published Sunday. The Democratic Alliance (DA), its closest rival, won just under 25%. The ANC also lost its majority in six of the country’s eight metropolitan regions, leaving several major cities without an outright winner and setting the stage for difficult coalition negotiations. The result reflects growing voter frustration with local government performance, including water and electricity shortages, unemployment, crime and corruption. President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa has not directly addressed the party’s poor showing, but acknowledged in a weekly letter that municipal failures have weakened public confidence in democratic governance. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the outcome as “catastrophic” and said the party must regain public trust rather than rely on its historic legacy. The municipal result continues a longer decline for the ANC. The party, which helped end apartheid and has governed since 1994, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the democratic era in the 2024 general election. It received just over 40% then, down from 46% in the 2021 municipal elections. Political analyst Daniel Silke said the new result could weaken the ANC’s authority at both local and national levels and may indicate voter sentiment ahead of the 2029 general election. The ANC currently participates in a national unity government formed after its 2024 loss. The DA retained an outright majority in Cape Town and performed strongly in Pretoria and Johannesburg. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the election was over and parties should now work to form municipal governments capable of addressing city and town problems. The DA is seeking coalition arrangements that exclude the ANC.