South Africa local election turnout tops 2021 level

Johannesburg - Over half of South Africa's registered voters participated in local government elections on Wednesday, marking a significant increase from 46% turnout in the 2021 elections held during the Covid-19 pandemic. With 257 councils up for grabs across the nation, the vote served as a crucial test of the country's political landscape ahead of the 2029 national election.

As of Thursday, the electoral body reported that approximately 15.9 million out of 29.2 million registered voters had cast their ballots, resulting in an estimated turnout of 54.5%. This turnout figure is markedly higher than the 2021 election and indicates a surge in civic engagement.

The preliminary results suggest that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is leading with around 31.5% of the vote, according to projections from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, a state-funded research institution. The Democratic Alliance, the ANC's coalition partner in South Africa's national unity government, is estimated to have secured about 25.5% of the vote.

Former President Jacob Zuma's breakaway party, the MK Party, is forecasted to secure roughly 9% of the vote, placing it in third position. This result is projected to be lower than the support the ANC received in the 2024 general election, where it fell below the 50% threshold for the first time, garnering only 40% of the vote. Final results are expected to be released on Sunday.