South Africa’s ANC Slump Puts Basic Services and Daily Life in Spotlight.

South Africa’s ANC Slump Puts Basic Services and Daily Life in Spotlight

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst election result since coming to power in 1994, receiving just over 30% of the vote in the November 4, 2026 local government elections.

The result deepens questions about the party’s ability to address problems affecting ordinary South Africans, including unreliable water and electricity, damaged roads, unemployment and poor waste collection.

According to the final results announced by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the ANC secured 30.76% of the vote, compared with 24.64% for the Democratic Alliance (DA). The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party came third with 9.76%, followed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 6.22%.

The ANC’s result represents a significant decline from the approximately 45% it received in the 2021 local elections. The party, which led South Africa out of apartheid under Nelson Mandela, once commanded around 70% of the vote.

The latest figures show how much the country’s political landscape has changed since the ANC first took power in 1994. Although it remains the largest party nationally, its support has continued to fall as voters increasingly look to other parties and independent candidates.

Why voters are becoming frustrated

For many South Africans, the election was about problems they encounter in their neighbourhoods every day.

The Associated Press reported that failures in basic services were among the main reasons behind the ANC’s declining support. Communities across the country have faced water shortages, electricity outages, broken roads, faulty streetlights and rubbish left uncollected.

These problems affect more than the appearance of a neighbourhood. When water does not flow regularly, families may have to find alternative supplies or spend money buying it. Electricity interruptions can affect businesses, household routines and children’s ability to study. Poor roads and broken streetlights can make travelling more difficult and create safety concerns.

Unemployment and poverty have also contributed to public dissatisfaction. South Africa continues to struggle with high unemployment and deep economic inequality, leaving many households concerned about the cost of living and their opportunities to improve their circumstances.

Corruption allegations involving ANC figures have further weakened public confidence. After decades in government, the party faces growing pressure from citizens who want to see public resources used effectively and leaders held accountable.

The ANC has acknowledged that its performance reflects public dissatisfaction. Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the result as a catastrophic outcome and said the party needed to regain people’s trust through service delivery rather than political promises.

The decline also follows the ANC’s loss of its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national election, when it received about 40% of the vote and entered a national government of national unity with other parties.

What the result means for local communities

Local government elections matter because municipal councils oversee many of the services residents depend on.

These include water and sanitation, refuse collection, local roads, streetlights, community facilities and, in many areas, electricity distribution. The quality of municipal management can therefore have a direct effect on people’s daily routines.

A council that struggles to maintain water systems or collect rubbish can leave residents dealing with problems long after election campaigns have ended. For small businesses, unreliable services can mean additional operating costs. For households, they can mean more time and money spent managing basic needs.

The election results do not automatically solve these problems. Instead, they create a new political situation in which parties will have to negotiate and work together in many municipalities.

The DA’s second-place result and the MK Party’s growing presence also show that voters are distributing their support across a wider range of political parties. No single opposition party has replaced the ANC as the largest party nationally, but the ANC’s reduced support means it will have to work harder to secure control of local councils.

What happens next?

Coalition negotiations are expected to play a major role in determining who governs many municipalities.

A coalition is an arrangement in which two or more political parties work together to form a government because none has won enough seats to govern alone. Parties may have to agree on leadership positions, policy priorities and how municipal budgets and services will be managed.

This means the final election outcome is only the beginning of another stage of political negotiations. The arrangements reached between parties will influence which groups control municipal councils and how local administrations operate.

For residents, the important question is whether the new councils can improve the services they receive. Political agreements will matter, but communities will ultimately judge local leaders by practical results: whether taps work, electricity is reliable, roads are maintained and rubbish is collected.

The ANC has said it needs to examine the reasons behind its losses and rebuild public trust. That process will involve confronting complaints about service delivery, corruption and internal party divisions.

South Africa’s next national election is scheduled for 2029, giving political parties time to respond to the message sent by voters. However, residents facing daily service problems are unlikely to wait until then to judge whether their local representatives are delivering.

The 2026 local elections have shown that the ANC’s history and role in ending apartheid are no longer enough on their own to guarantee electoral support. For many voters, the more immediate measure of government is whether it can make everyday life better.