With 80% of ballots counted, ANC faces bruising defeat in South African local elections
ANC support falls sharply
The African National Congress, once dominant in South African politics, is projected to receive less than one-third of the national vote. Its share is almost 14 percentage points below its 2021 result.
Coalitions shape local government
Parties have started coalition negotiations behind closed doors. Voters choose a local councillor and a party, with council seats allocated through proportional representation.
City services and voter turnout
Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial capital and biggest city, has 4.8 million people. Residents have faced regular water and power cuts, rubbish collection problems and potholes. The municipality has acknowledged an infrastructure spending backlog of 220 billion rand, equivalent to £9.9 billion. Election commission estimates put turnout at 54.5% of registered voters, up from 46% five years ago.
Provincial contests remain unsettled
Many ANC township strongholds have yet to report complete results. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research projects the Democratic Alliance at 34% in Johannesburg, the ANC at 20% and ActionSA at 16.8%.
Key points
- The ANC is projected to fall below one-third of the national vote.
- The party may lose its largest-party status in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
- Turnout was estimated at 54.5%, compared with 46% five years earlier.
- Councillors have two weeks after the vote to elect mayors and form municipal governments.