In case you missed it: How eight metros stand | Court blow for Zuma-Sambudla | Kolisi pays tribute to Andrews

As the IEC nears completion of its results declarations, an emerging picture of which political parties will hold the upper hand in key South African metros is forming. The DA has demonstrated a strong performance nation-wide, but is only likely to secure outright mayoral control in a single metropolitan area.

In Gauteng, the DA's local frontrunner is the ActionSA party, which may now face a choice between reconciling its internal disputes with the DA, or supporting an ANC candidate who underperformed in the northern regions.

Meanwhile, former MK party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has encountered a setback in her legal battle to have criminal charges against her dropped. The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban rejected her application on Friday, 6 November 2026, leaving her facing prosecution in the terrorism trial. Judge Mbuzeni Mathenjwa dismissed her request, after hearing arguments from both sides on 29 October 2026.