ANC records worst-ever result in South African local elections

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) recorded its worst-ever result in the 2026 local government elections, according to results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission.

Election results

The ANC's vote share fell from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.76% in 2026, though it remained the largest party. The Democratic Alliance ranked second with 24.64% of the vote, and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party ranked third with 9.76%.

The ANC won absolute majority seats in 53 municipalities, while the Democratic Alliance won absolute majority seats in 12 municipalities. Of the 213 municipal councils, 212 had completed result confirmation, with one polling station in Northern Cape province to hold a re-vote due to destroyed ballots.

Metropolitan municipalities

In South Africa's eight metropolitan municipalities, the Democratic Alliance led in votes in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town, and Nelson Mandela Bay. The ANC led in Buffalo City and Mangaung, and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party led in eThekwini, where Durban is located.

Only Cape Town saw the Democratic Alliance win an absolute majority of seats; the remaining seven metros require party negotiations to determine governing arrangements. In Johannesburg, the Democratic Alliance ranked first with 34.79% of the vote, followed by the ANC at 20.25% and ActionSA at 16.27%. The Democratic Alliance won 91 of the 270 seats in the Johannesburg City Council, short of the 136 seats required to govern independently.

Party reactions

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on all parties to place public interests above the struggle for political power in negotiations to form local governments. He cited high cost of living, persistently high unemployment, and insufficient public services in some areas as challenges facing South Africans.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the outcome as catastrophic. "We cannot ask the people to trust us merely because of our history," Mbalula said. "This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC ... as much as we are the largest party, it has been catastrophic for the movement," he added.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said it was time to put together governments that can fix towns and cities, and that the DA had already reached out to many parties.

Why it matters

The result deepens the ANC's electoral decline after it lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time in South Africa's democratic era in the 2024 general election. With more than half of municipal councils facing hung parliaments, coalition negotiations will shape local governance across the country ahead of the 2029 general elections.

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Sources

• chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese): South Africa announces local election results: Over half of municipalities face "hung parliaments" - China News Service
• dw.com: South Africa elections: ANC marks its worst-ever performance

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.