South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) won 30.76% of the vote in municipal elections, its weakest local-election result since apartheid ended, leaving coalition talks ahead in several major cities.
With 99% of voting districts counted, the ANC remains the country’s largest party. Its support has fallen sharply from the 45.59% it received in the 2021 municipal elections. The Democratic Alliance (DA) placed second with 24.64%, according to the Electoral Commission’s results dashboard.
Former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party received 9.77%, according to the dashboard. The ANC failed to win more than half the seats in any of the eight metropolitan councils. The DA also fell short of a majority in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
Parties will need to negotiate with rivals or smaller groups to form governing coalitions in those cities and others. In Johannesburg, the DA won the most seats. It still needs partners to secure a majority on the council.
Voters’ frustration with poor local services, including unreliable water and electricity, has been cited as one pressure on the ANC’s vote. The results mark a further weakening of the party. The ANC has led South Africa since 1994.
It now faces negotiations over local power after entering a national unity government following the 2024 election.