Local elections: ANC leads with 31% of votes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
The ANC leads with nearly 31% of the vote after 97% of polling stations were counted, ahead of the DA at nearly 25%. Several municipal councils without an outright majority could lead to coalition negotiations this weekend, according to IOL.
The African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party, has secured nearly 31% of the vote in the 2026 local elections, with 97% of voting districts counted. It leads in 115 municipal councils and directly controls 48, according to preliminary results reported by IOL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, has nearly 25% of the vote, leads in 27 councils and controls 11. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has nearly 10% and leads in 18 councils, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has nearly 5% and also leads in 18 councils, according to IOL.
The election drew about 15.9 million voters, or 54.5% of the 29.2 million registered voters. Turnout exceeded that of the 2021 local elections, which reached 45.86%, while the counting and verification of results continue, according to IOL.
Parties are beginning to prepare for negotiations in municipalities without a majority. The DA confirmed that it had begun preliminary discussions with other parties, including the ANC, according to IOL.
