In brief
After the 2026 South African local elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa said parties must focus on service delivery and community interests, not political positions, as they negotiate municipal governments. The African National Congress (ANC) remains the largest party with 30.76% of the vote, but the 138 hung councils make coalition talks inevitable. The president’s message underlines the need for stability and timely public services for residents across the country.
Johannesburg, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) – President Cyril Ramaphosa urged political parties in South Africa to put service delivery and community needs above power disputes as they begin talks to form municipal governments following the 2026 local elections. He said the scramble for positions should not undermine the stability of municipal councils or delay essential services for the people.
Service Delivery Remains Central to Coalition Negotiations
Official results from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) released Sunday evening show the African National Congress (ANC), led by Ramaphosa, securing 30.76 percent of the vote and 3,282 council seats. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second with 24.64 percent and 1,722 seats, while the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) obtained 9.77 percent and 799 seats. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA captured 6.22 percent with 592 seats and 5.67 percent with 320 seats, respectively.
Other political parties and independent candidates collectively gained 22.94 percent of the vote, earning representation across municipal councils. In total, all 213 municipal councils were finalized and declared, with 10,526 council seats contested. The ANC won outright majorities in 53 municipalities and emerged as the leading party in 128.
The DA won outright majorities in 12 councils and led in 32. Overall, 74 municipal councils were won outright by a single party, while 138 councils are hung, meaning no party secured an absolute majority. These hung councils make coalition negotiations inevitable as parties negotiate power sharing arrangements.
In Johannesburg, the 270‑seat municipal council is a highlighted case, where the DA won 91 seats, placing it as the largest party. The ANC follows with 63 seats and ActionSA has 43 seats. No party reached the 136‑seat majority threshold required for an outright majority, intensifying the need for a coalition that can deliver municipal services to the city’s residents.
Ramaphosa said the elections were a resounding affirmation of South Africa’s democratic institutions and the constitutional principle that all political authority belongs to the people. He added: "The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any political institution." The president reiterated that the country’s foundational Freedom Charter—the people shall govern—provides the moral basis for civic participation and effective governance.
Turnout figures from the IEC show approximately 14.9 million voters cast ballots, bringing voter participation to 52 percent, which represents a 6.1‑point increase from the 2021 local government elections. The higher participation is interpreted as a mandate for increased accountability from elected officials, especially in areas requiring urgent service delivery.
As coalition talks commence, many observers point to the essential role that municipal councils play in water supply, sanitation, electricity, and public safety—services that are critical to everyday life in South Africa’s urban and rural communities. The urgency to maintain continuity in these services amid potential political wrangling has become a prominent issue for the electorate.
The president’s call for parties to set power struggles aside echoes the broader national conversation about how best to translate electoral outcomes into tangible improvements for citizens. The municipal councils, many of them in a hung‑status situation, now face the task of aligning their policy priorities to secure cooperation that benefits residents rather than a power‑driven contest.
