LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Five national polls show DA building momentum in the metros

Five national polls conducted in the lead-up to South Africa's local elections in 2026 have shown the Democratic Alliance (DA) gaining ground in metropolitan areas. According to the latest numbers, the DA appears to have momentum, while the African National Congress (ANC) has fallen even further behind. Two weeks ago, a report highlighted the limitations of national polling ahead of local government elections, suggesting that these polls provide insights into the broader direction but do not guarantee outcomes at the local level.

The most recent Ipsos poll, released last week as the fifth national poll in the past four months, indicates that the gap between the ANC and the DA has narrowed from six to seven percentage points to just two points. This decline in the ANC's lead, coupled with the DA's consistent polling at 25%, suggests that the DA is the party's floor, while the ANC could drop below 30% and potentially lower over the next three years.

If these national poll results translate into strong performance in metropolitan areas for the DA and corresponding losses for the ANC, the DA may have the opportunity to form coalitions across Gauteng, weakening the ANC's ability to dictate terms to its partners.