ANC's Popularity Drops Again in South Africa Local Vote

South Africa’s long-dominant African National Congress (ANC) has been met with another major electoral setback after early results from the country’s local government elections showed a sharp decline in voter support.

According to the Associated Press (AP), interim results released on Friday, November 6, 2026, showed that the ANC had received nearly 31 per cent of the national vote, with approximately 76 per cent of ballots counted.

The figure represents a significant drop from the 2021 local elections, when the party secured just over 45 per cent of the vote. The early results also showed the ANC trailing rival parties in important urban areas, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), one of the country's main opposition parties, was ahead of the ANC in several major cities. The results suggest that the ANC could lose control of important municipal governments.

The development adds to the party's political difficulties following its loss of a parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections.

Local government elections are particularly important because they directly affect people's everyday lives. Municipal councils are responsible for essential services such as water supply, electricity distribution, road maintenance, sanitation and rubbish collection.

For ordinary residents, these responsibilities determine whether taps provide clean water, streets are properly maintained and refuse is collected regularly.

Poor service delivery, unemployment, crime and corruption have contributed to growing public dissatisfaction with the ANC. Many voters increasingly expect political parties to demonstrate practical improvements rather than rely on their historical achievements.

The declining support therefore sends a strong message that voters are becoming more concerned about how their communities are managed.

As counting continued when AP published its November 6 report, the final distribution of votes and control of several municipalities remained uncertain. However, subsequent results confirmed the ANC's significant losses, with the party receiving about 31 per cent nationally.

The next important stage is the formation of municipal governments. Where no party wins more than half the votes, political parties must negotiate agreements to form coalitions and select mayors and other council leaders. These negotiations will be particularly important in Johannesburg and other major cities, where no single party secured an outright majority.

The election outcome represents another important moment in South Africa's changing political landscape. It also highlights a growing demand for accountable leadership and reliable public services. Moreso, the voting populace are so willing and eager to make any party unpopular should the fail to underscore public as their objectives

Date checked: November 11, 2026.