South Africa's ANC Drops to 31 Percent in Historic Local Election Defeat

South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) recorded its lowest support in municipal elections since the end of apartheid, securing 31 percent of the national vote. The result represents a drop from the 46 percent achieved in 2021 and a substantial fall from the 65 percent recorded two decades ago.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula termed the outcome a catastrophic result for the governing party, attributing the losses to the high cost of living and a withdrawal of support among middle-class voters. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the party accepted the result, saying: "We accept the will of the people however concerning it might be, we accept that this is how the people of South Africa in our towns, in our cities, in our metros have spoken - and this is their verdict, we accept it with humility."

Official tallying showed the ANC retaining an absolute majority in only one of the country's nine provinces, Limpopo, compared to six provinces won in 2021. The party also won the largest share of votes in just two of South Africa's eight metropolitan areas, down from six in the previous local elections. Turnout reached 52 percent, an increase from 46 percent during the 2021 elections held during the coronavirus pandemic.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), finished second overall with 25 percent of the vote, slightly above its 2021 performance of 22 percent, while maintaining its majority in Cape Town. Former President Jacob Zuma's MK party placed third nationally with 10 percent and displaced the ANC as the largest party in Durban, while Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) recorded 6 percent.

According to political analyst Susan Booysen, the fall in governing party support reflects voter frustration over failing municipal services, including recurrent shortages of electricity, clean water, and sanitation infrastructure. The local election losses follow the 2024 parliamentary elections, in which the ANC lost its absolute majority for the first time since 1994 and subsequently entered into a coalition known as the Government of National Unity.

Under South African electoral law, political parties have 14 days from the publication of final results to complete negotiations for local coalition governments. Major metropolitan centers in Gauteng province, including Johannesburg and Pretoria, face intense inter-party talks, with the ANC at risk of being excluded from executive power in both municipal administrations.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com