ANC Support Drops to 32% in South Africa’s Municipal Polls
South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) is on track for its worst-ever election result, securing about 32% of the vote in the 2026 municipal elections after 80% of votes were counted. This marks a significant decline from previous elections and reflects public dissatisfaction with local service delivery. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the new MKP party made notable gains, setting the stage for complex coalition talks.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-11-04
South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) is heading towards its worst election performance ever, with approximately 32% of the vote counted after 80% of ballots in the 2026 municipal elections.
This result is a sharp decline from the ANC’s 40% in the 2024 national polls and 46% in the 2021 municipal elections, and far below the nearly 70% it secured in 2004. The drop reflects widespread voter frustration over failing water and power supplies in one of Africa’s wealthiest nations.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), a pro-business, centre-right party, came in second with just over 24%, increasing its share from 22% in 2021. The DA is expected to retain control of Cape Town and is leading in Johannesburg.
Former president Jacob Zuma’s breakaway party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MKP), contested local elections for the first time and secured just over 9%, leading in the eThekwini metropolitan area, which includes Durban.
With no party likely to secure outright majorities in major cities, complex coalition negotiations are anticipated. Political analysts warn this historic low for the ANC could undermine its authority nationally and energize opposition parties ahead of the 2029 general election.