In a significant shift within South Africa’s political landscape, the African National Congress (ANC) experienced a substantial decline in voter support during the 2026 Local Government Elections. The ANC secured 9.16 million votes, a sharp drop from the 10.69 million votes it received in 2021. This decrease led to a reduction in its share of the national vote from 45.59% to 30.76%, yet the ANC remains the largest political party in the country.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) capitalized on this shift, significantly increasing its support to 7.33 million votes from 5.07 million in the previous election. With a national vote share of 24.64%, the DA has narrowed its gap with the ANC. Meanwhile, the newly introduced uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party made a notable entrance by securing 2.91 million votes, capturing 9.77% of the national vote and placing third overall.
Other parties also made gains, with ActionSA increasing its votes to 1.69 million from around 548,000 in 2021. The Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, and Patriotic Alliance also saw improvements in their electoral support. However, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) faced a loss, securing approximately 1.85 million votes, down by more than 567,000 votes since the last election.
The election results have created a scenario where 138 municipalities lack an outright majority, making coalition negotiations a crucial process for forming local governments. The ANC is expected to engage in discussions with other parties to retain or gain control over several councils.
This shift in political dynamics highlights changing voter preferences across South Africa, signaling a move towards coalition governments that are likely to influence municipal administration over the coming five years.