South Africa vote shows ANC under pressure

South Africa's long-dominant African National Congress (ANC) is facing another major electoral challenge after early results from the country's local government elections showed a significant decline in its support. The results suggest that the party could lose control of several important cities, raising questions about its political future and its ability to regain public confidence.

According to the Associated Press (AP), with 76 per cent of votes counted nationally on Friday, November 6, 2026, the ANC had received nearly 31 per cent of the vote. This represents a considerable decline from the just over 45 per cent it secured during the 2021 local government elections.

The early results also showed the ANC trailing rival parties in major urban centres, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini, which includes Durban. These cities are important economic and administrative centres, making the results particularly significant for the party.

The development follows another major setback in the 2024 national elections, when the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

What the Early Results Show

The preliminary figures indicate that South African voters are becoming less willing to give the ANC automatic support based on its historical position in the country's politics.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) was leading the ANC in Johannesburg, although early results suggested that neither party would secure an outright majority. This could make coalition negotiations necessary before a new city government is formed.

In eThekwini, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, established by former South African President Jacob Zuma, was also recording a strong performance.

These developments show that political competition is increasing, particularly in areas where the ANC previously enjoyed considerable support.

The results were still being counted when AP published its report, meaning the figures should be treated as preliminary rather than final certified results.

Why Local Elections Matter Beyond South Africa

Local government elections may appear less important than national elections, but their effects are directly felt by ordinary residents.

In South Africa, municipal authorities are responsible for essential services such as water supply, road maintenance, waste collection and other local infrastructure. The parties controlling these municipalities therefore have considerable influence over the daily lives of residents.

The election results also matter beyond South Africa because the country is one of Africa's major political and economic players.

Other African countries can observe how voters respond to the performance of established political parties, particularly when concerns about unemployment, public services, corruption and economic conditions become important election issues.

The results provide an example of how local elections can influence political discussions, government accountability and competition between political parties.

They also demonstrate that historical political support does not necessarily guarantee future electoral success.

What the Results Could Mean for the ANC

The declining support presents a serious challenge for the ANC as it considers its political direction ahead of future elections.

One immediate challenge will be negotiating possible coalition arrangements in municipalities where no party secures enough votes to govern independently.

Coalition governments require parties to work together to agree on leadership positions, policies and how municipal responsibilities will be managed. These arrangements can create opportunities for cooperation, but disagreements between coalition partners may also make administration difficult.

The ANC will also face pressure to examine why some voters are withdrawing their support.

In its response to the preliminary results, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu acknowledged the decline and said the party needed to reflect seriously on how to rebuild public confidence.

This suggests that the party recognises the importance of responding to voters' concerns rather than relying only on its political history.

For the ANC, rebuilding support may depend on demonstrating improvements in service delivery, strengthening public trust and addressing concerns affecting communities.

What Happens Next?

As vote counting continues and final results are confirmed, attention will turn to which parties can form municipal governments in the affected cities.

The outcome of coalition negotiations will be particularly important in Johannesburg and other municipalities where no party has secured an outright majority.

For the ANC, the election represents another warning that its political influence is no longer guaranteed. Its ability to respond to the concerns of voters will help determine whether it can recover support in future elections.

Ultimately, the South African local elections are more than a contest between political parties. They show how voters can use the democratic process to express their expectations of elected leaders.

The coming weeks will reveal how the ANC and its competitors respond to the results, while other African countries will be watching the developments as another example of changing political expectations across the continent.