Politics
The African National Congress (ANC), led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has secured the highest number of votes in the country’s municipal elections.
The African National Congress (ANC), led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has secured the highest number of votes in the country’s municipal elections. However, a sharp decline in its support means the party will need coalition partners to form governments in several major cities. Announcing the results on Sunday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the ANC had secured 30.76% of the vote and 3,246 council seats, compared with 45.59% of the vote in 2021. The Democratic Alliance (DA) received 24.64% of the vote and won 1,695 seats, while former President Jacob Zuma’s party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), came third with 9.76% of the vote and 785 seats. Of the 29.2 million registered voters, approximately 14.9 million cast their ballots on November 4. According to the commission, voter turnout stood at 52%, up 6.1 percentage points from 2021. The commission described the elections as free and fair.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the outcome as an extremely devastating result for the party. The ANC accepted the results, calling them an opportunity for honest reflection and renewal. The DA retained a clear majority in Cape Town and emerged as the largest party in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay. However, it does not have enough seats to govern any of these four cities on its own. Zuma’s party led in the municipality covering the eastern port city of Durban, but it will also need coalition partners to form an administration.
Political parties have 14 days to hold the first meetings of their councils and elect office-bearers. Mbalula said the ANC would consider sitting in opposition rather than entering into unsuitable coalitions. The party said it would negotiate in good faith, guided by the Constitution and the interests of local communities. The DA’s Federal Executive authorised coalition negotiations on Saturday, saying that potential partners would have to support accountable governance, reliable service delivery and the fight against corruption. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said on Sunday that his party would not support a DA-led administration in Johannesburg if Helen Zille became mayor. ActionSA secured approximately 16% of the vote in the city, compared with around 35% for the DA and 20% for the ANC. Meanwhile, Mbalula said in a post on X that the ANC and ActionSA had begun preliminary discussions about possible negotiations to prevent a governance vacuum in local municipalities.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema urged the ANC on Saturday to reconsider cooperation with the DA and instead work with his party, Zuma’s political group and the South African Communist Party. Mbalula said the ANC had not yet taken a position on the proposal. Addressing the results announcement ceremony on Sunday, President Ramaphosa warned that the delivery of essential services must not become hostage to political differences. Water shortages, power cuts and corruption were among the dominant issues during the election campaign. After three decades in power, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024. A 10-party Government of National Unity, which includes the DA, is now leading the country. The ANC’s next leadership contest is scheduled for 2027, while the next national elections are due in 2029. The party has pledged to address poor governance and strengthen oversight.
