South Africa’s ANC records worst-ever results in local elections

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst-ever local election results since the end of apartheid over three decades ago, with the party's support dropping to 30.76% of the vote. This is a sharp decline from 46% in 2021 and 64.82% in 1999. The ANC only won a majority in one of the nine provinces and only two of the eight cities during the local elections.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) came in second with 24.64% of the vote, retaining control of Cape Town, while Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) finished fourth with 6.22%. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula described the outcome as "catastrophic" and attributed it to high living costs and the party's unpopularity among the middle class.

President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted the results with humility, acknowledging the decline in the ANC's support. Voter turnout increased to 52.29% from 45.9% in 2021, suggesting many South Africans were disenchanted with the ruling party. Analysts warn that the ANC's continued decline could mark the end of the "liberation movement era" in South Africa, leading to a more fragmented political landscape and potential infighting as the party searches for a new leader.