ANC Vote Share Drops in South Africa Municipal Elections

Early municipal election results in South Africa indicate a significant decline in the African National Congress's (ANC) vote share, according to the election commission. With 36% of votes counted, the ANC received approximately 32%, narrowly ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 27%.

The ANC, which has dominated South African politics since 1994, faces its worst electoral performance in recent history if current trends continue. The party's share of the vote is expected to drop by 14 percentage points from its 2021 municipal election result.

The DA expressed optimism for a strong result, particularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where it is leading. In Cape Town, the DA has already secured 60% of the vote in counted results, a result widely anticipated. Winning Johannesburg would be a major win for the DA, though the outcome remains uncertain.

Analysts suggest that coalition negotiations may be necessary in several key municipalities, as no single party is expected to secure an outright majority. The best option for stability in cities such as Johannesburg would be for the ANC to partner with the DA, mirroring the arrangement they have in national government.

The DA's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille, expressed excitement about the potential outcome, while ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe emphasized that current results are not final and that the party could still improve.

Other parties, including ActionSA, are also performing strongly in early results, highlighting the shifting political landscape in South Africa ahead of the 2029 national elections.