South Africa’s municipal vote shows the ANC’s long decline continuing, while fragmented opposition gains make control of major councils uncertain.
The ANC’s support keeps falling
With 81% counted, the ANC had 32% of the vote and the Democratic Alliance had 25%. Later on Friday, 92% of voting districts had reported, with the ANC at 31.3% and the DA at 24.3%. That tally was provisional: 70% of council seats had been allocated, and many councils were unresolved.
The ANC won 45.6% in the 2021 local elections and just over 40% in the 2024 national vote, when it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time.
Voters have several alternatives
Municipal councils affect daily services such as water, waste and roads. A recent study described deteriorating infrastructure, financial strain and weak public trust. It cited mismanagement, corruption, neglected maintenance and shortages of skilled staff as contributing problems. Unemployment, crime and corruption also shape how voters judge the ANC, even when local government is not solely responsible.
The DA gained ground, but Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party offered a distinct alternative, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. ActionSA is seeking a bargaining role in Gauteng. Estimated turnout was higher than in 2021. Oxford Economics Africa analyst Louw Nel interpreted this as a sign that some ANC voters turned out but chose other parties; it does not prove individual voter shifts.
Coalitions will decide who governs
At the 92% reporting mark, the DA led Johannesburg with 37 seats in a 136-seat council, while MKP led eThekwini with 23 seats in a 112-seat council. Neither had a majority. Councillors in councils without a majority must build enough support to choose leaders and govern, giving smaller parties influence.
A Coalition Barometer reported that the ANC and DA had not governed together in a municipal coalition since the 2021 elections. Reuters quoted analyst Ralph Mathekga warning that a deal could bring stability but alienate voters who had rejected ANC-led municipal rule. The DA said it was contacting potential partners. ActionSA said it was open to talks across party lines if they prioritized better services, stable councils and fighting corruption.
Final results were expected on Sunday, November 8. Under current law, councils must hold their first meeting within 14 days of being declared elected; a proposed extension had not become law. The result will inform the run-up to the 2029 national election, but does not predict it.