ANC bleeds out significant support across SA
With 98% of voting districts declared nationally the ANC has lost significant support
The ANC has suffered significant losses in support across South Africa in the 2026 Local Government Elections, according to official results released after 98% of voting districts had been declared. The party's decline is evident in all provinces, with the most notable reductions occurring in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.
Voters are now spreading their support among a greater variety of political parties, reflecting a shifting political landscape. The ANC's performance in the 2026 elections has worsened when compared to the 2021 local government elections. In KwaZulu-Natal, the party lost 21 percentage points, in the Eastern Cape 17 percentage points, and in both Gauteng and Mpumalanga, 15 and 14 percentage points, respectively.
The party's struggles are further compounded by opposition parties' gains in crucial municipalities and urban centers. The ANC's Gauteng branch has lodged 53 objections to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), citing concerns over proper election procedures. Successful objections may result in a recount of votes in affected areas.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
