South Africa's ANC Posts Worst Local Election Result in Its History

South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) took just over 30% of the vote in Wednesday's municipal elections, its weakest showing in any election. The Electoral Commission announced on Saturday, with 98% of votes counted, that the party had lost its majority in six of the eight metropolitan regions. The outcome will shape local governance and may serve as a gauge of voter sentiment ahead of the 2029 general elections.

Voter frustration

Voters are angry about water and electricity shortages, and the ANC is blamed for the poor state of municipalities. High unemployment, crime and widespread corruption are other pressing concerns. ANC leader and President Cyril Ramaphosa had not commented on the result by Saturday evening. Earlier in the week, in his weekly letter, he acknowledged that municipal failures had contributed to declining public trust in democratic governance.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula told reporters the party must win back public confidence and cannot ask people to trust it merely because of its history. He called the outcome catastrophic for the movement, even though the ANC remains the largest party.

A long decline

The ANC, once led by Nelson Mandela and instrumental in ending apartheid, took power in 1994. For most of its history it governed with an absolute majority, until the 2024 general election, when it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time, winning just over 40%. At the previous municipal elections in 2021 it received 46%. After 2024 it formed a national unity government with all parties represented in parliament, which remains in power. Political analyst Daniel Silke told AFP it is the ANC's worst result in history and will weaken its ability to exert authority.

Opposition strengthens

The pro-business, center-right opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is in second place with 24%. It will keep control of Cape Town with an absolute majority and also did well in the capital Pretoria and the economic hub Johannesburg. It is expected to form coalitions excluding the ANC. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the party has already reached out to many parties.