In brief
In its latest local elections, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) falls to 30.76% of the vote, down over 14 percentage points from 2021, yet it remains the party with the greatest share of seats. Electoral Commission data released on Sunday shows the ANC's decline amid growing opposition urges for political change.
Johannesburg, Nov. 8 – The African National Congress (ANC) secured its position as South Africa's largest political party in the 2026 local government elections, despite a sharp drop in voter support.
The Electoral Commission announced that the ANC captured 30.76 percent of the vote, a decline of more than 14 percentage points from the 2021 local elections.
Although the party's share of seats remained the highest among all candidates, the proportion of votes it received fell considerably, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among portions of the electorate.
The new figures place the ANC above all other parties in the number of council seats, but the margin between it and the second‑largest contender narrows as opposition support rises.
City councils across the country will now see a larger mix of representatives than in previous years, as smaller parties capture a greater share of the votes cast.
Election officials noted that turnout remained stable compared to 2021, suggesting that the overall engagement of voters did not account for the ANC's weakened performance.
Disappointing results for the ANC have added fuel to a narrative that the ruling party is losing its political dominance, especially as the nation faces economic challenges and calls for reform from civil society groups.
Observers say the ANC's decline may indicate a shift in public sentiment, with voters exploring alternatives that promise new approaches to governance.
In response to the results, ANC spokespersons stressed that the party would continue to work on delivering services at the local level and that their ability to win the most council seats keeps them at the centre of municipal decision‑making.
Critics, meanwhile, argue that the party’s weakened electoral performance signals a potential loss of control over key political levers in the next term.
The changes in the proportion of seats won by smaller parties could influence future policy negotiations between municipalities and the national government, creating a more complex landscape for resource allocation and local governance.
South Africa's local elections traditionally shape the day‑to‑day management of communities, and the new results will consequently affect priorities such as infrastructure maintenance, public safety, and service delivery in millions of households.
As the political terrain evolves, citizens will continue to watch how the ANC adapts and whether the new council compositions will break the prevailing pattern of dominance that has long defined South African local politics.
In the coming weeks, analysts will track how the shifting distribution of council seats influences policy outcomes, while the ANC will likely outline strategies to regain voter confidence for the upcoming national elections.
