The ANC faces a sharp fall in support in South Africa's municipal elections, with the count unfinished and coalition talks likely.

Published 6 Nov 2026, 08:32 GMT

2 min read

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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The African National Congress faces a sharp fall in support in South Africa's municipal elections, with the count still unfinished.

In the 2024 national election, the ANC won just over 40 per cent of the vote.

That national result cost the party its parliamentary majority for the first time since it won power in 1994. The municipal count is still incomplete.

Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban

City results were at different stages. In a reading of the commission's figures at 6:50 a.m. local time, Bloomberg reported that no party was ahead outright in seven of the eight biggest metros.

In Johannesburg the DA had 41 per cent, while the ANC was on 17 per cent. Those city tallies were still incomplete.

In Cape Town, the DA was ahead. The MK Party led in eThekwini, the municipality that includes Durban, but had not reached half the vote.

Those city numbers are partial, and they are earlier than the national figure above.

Where the other parties stand

The MK Party did not exist at the 2021 local elections. Zuma launched it in 2023, and it has taken a large share of the ANC's old vote in KwaZulu-Natal.

The ANC governs nationally in coalition with the DA and eight smaller parties. Bloomberg reported that the local result is being read against public anger over water failures, power cuts and broken roads.

On Thursday night, with just over 60 per cent of votes counted, the commission estimated turnout at 54.5 per cent.

It said 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters had cast ballots, up from 46 per cent in the 2021 local elections, which were held during the pandemic. That turnout figure can still be revised.

Voters went to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November, the date given in an ANC statement on its candidates. The commission is expected to publish the final result, and the seats, over the weekend.

Where no party reaches half the seats, councils will have to bargain over who governs cities that run water, electricity and local roads.

The local numbers are also an early measure of the parties ahead of the general election due in 2029.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

ANC support falls to 32% in South Africa&#39;s local election count

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