South Africa's ANC on track for historic low in municipal elections

Nov 5, 2026

South Africa's governing African National Congress faces a historic defeat in the November 4, 2026 municipal elections, securing just 32% of votes with 71% counted—a 14-point drop from 2021. Voters punished the party over high crime, unemployment, corruption, and failing basic services. With the Democratic Alliance taking 25% and leading Cape Town, major cities like Johannesburg and Tshwane face hung councils, forcing complex coalition negotiations.

Election results and party performance

▪The Democratic Alliance secured 25% of the vote with 71% of ballots counted in South Africa's November 4, 2026 municipal elections
▪With 71% of votes counted in South Africa's November 4, 2026 municipal elections, the African National Congress led with 32% of votes, a 14 percentage point decline from its 2021 municipal election results

Local council outcomes and projections

▪Former South African President Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe party, an African National Congress splinter group, sought a majority in the eThekwini municipality centered on Durban
▪Election projections indicate hung councils in major South African metropolitan areas following the November 4, 2026 vote, including Johannesburg and Pretoria's Tshwane municipality

Factors influencing voter choices

▪Oxford Economics Africa political analyst Louw Nel stated that turnout indicated African National Congress voters voted for alternative parties in the November 4, 2026 municipal elections rather than abstaining
▪South African voters penalized the African National Congress in the November 4, 2026 municipal elections over high crime rates, unemployment, corruption scandals, and failing water and electricity services

ANC political history and coalition context

▪Political analysts identified a coalition between the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance as the best option for municipal governance stability, despite ideological differences over racial redress
▪The African National Congress has served as South Africa's largest political party since leading the nation out of apartheid governance in 1994
▪The African National Congress was forced to form a national coalition government following losses in South Africa's 2024 national election