LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026 OP-ED: The DA hammered the ANC in Emfuleni — the how and the why
The most important result of the 2026 municipal elections is in Gauteng, and it’s not Johannesburg, Tshwane or Ekurhuleni. While these metros are pivotal, what happened in Emfuleni Municipality, a place of nearly a million people and the heart of the Vaal Triangle, has the potential to be utterly transformational.
The 2026 municipal elections in Gauteng saw the Democratic Alliance (DA) make significant gains in Emfuleni Municipality, a place of nearly one million people located in the heart of the Vaal Triangle. While Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni are pivotal, Emfuleni's outcome has the potential to be transformational.
The DA stormed through Emfuleni's townships, capturing seats in the key voting districts of Sebokeng, Evaton, Boipatong, Tshepiso, Sharpeville (Ward 013), and others. In Sharpeville, the DA won with 2,719 votes to the ANC's 2,507. Emfuleni is the only Gauteng municipality where the DA performed better than any other in terms of overall votes, garnering 41.04% of the vote, compared to the ANC's 23.96%.
The EFF's overall share of the vote dropped to 6.04%, while the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) received 5.63% and ActionSA garnered just 5.71%. The DA's success in Emfuleni has put them in a strong position, with 37 seats in the municipal council compared to the ANC's 22. Since 46 seats are required to take control, the DA is in a promising position, potentially becoming the majority party.
The DA will need to build a coalition in Emfuleni, as they have 37 seats (ward and PR) and the ANC has 22. Since 46 seats are needed to gain control, the DA is in a strong position to potentially become the majority party.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
