Mbalula calls ANC result in municipal elections catastrophic
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan and Business Day (South Africa)
Fikile Mbalula, secretary-general of South Africa’s ANC, calls his party’s result in the 2026 municipal elections catastrophic, despite national support slightly above 30%. The ANC refuses to rush into coalition talks and intends to examine results municipality by municipality, according to Sowetan.
The secretary-general of South Africa’s ANC, Fikile Mbalula, calls the party’s performance in the 2026 local elections “catastrophic”, while the ANC remains ahead nationally with just over 30% of the vote. He said on 7 November that the party had expected a difficult result, with its internal polls putting its support at at least 34%, reports Sowetan.
Fikile Mbalula said the ANC would not immediately enter coalition negotiations and would examine the situation in each municipality separately. The party is considering coalition governments, support agreements without participation in government, or remaining in opposition, according to Sowetan.
The ANC’s national executive committee is due to meet during the week to analyse the results and determine the party’s strategy. Mbalula said the priority would be to restore voters’ trust through the provision of public services rather than seeking positions in municipal executives, reports Sowetan.
