South Africa holds local elections amid service failures

South Africans voted in a local government election on Wednesday, with parties competing for control of major cities in a contest seen as a barometer of national sentiment ahead of the next national polls.

Polling stations opened at 7am (12pm) and closed at 9pm, with voters facing ongoing challenges such as crumbling infrastructure, water shortages, and high unemployment above 30 percent.

More than 29 million voters are registered, but turnout in the last municipal elections in 2021 was just 46%, with fewer than half of registered voters casting ballots.

Of the 2.6 million people approved to vote on special days, only 1.4 million actually did so, according to the electoral commission.

The African National Congress (ANC), which led the country's anti-apartheid struggle, is projected to remain the largest party nationally but faces continued erosion of its support.

The ANC fell below 50% of the vote for the first time in the 2021 municipal elections and secured just over 40% in the 2024 national vote, forcing it into a government of national unity with nine other parties.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the country's second-largest party, is targeting Johannesburg, capitalizing on service delivery failures in the ANC stronghold.

The breakaway opposition uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, is challenging the ANC in Durban, a city marked by rising anti-migrant sentiment.

MK made a significant electoral breakthrough in 2024, finishing third nationally with 14.5% of the vote.

The election will determine municipal leadership, with voters electing councillors who will form city administrations.

With no party expected to secure an outright majority in several major cities, coalition negotiations are likely to shape governance in the coming years.

Coalition rule is already common, with 74 of the country's 257 municipalities governed by coalitions or minority administrations by February 2026.

The final results, expected on Sunday, will provide insight into the political landscape ahead of the 2029 general election and influence the ANC's future leadership contest in December 2027.

Political analysts suggest the election will be driven by voters' experiences with daily life issues rather than political loyalty, focusing on matters like water, electricity, and roads.