The ANC Hits Its Lowest Point at the Local Ballot
The ANC has never polled worse in a municipal election. After three days of counting, the IEC declared the 4 November vote free and fair. The ANC’s support fell from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.76%, a drop of 14.83 percentage points and its weakest local showing since 1994. The DA followed on 24.64%, then the MK Party on 9.76%, the EFF on 6.22% and ActionSA on 5.67%.
The African National Congress (ANC) has hit a new low in local elections, slipping to its lowest point in recent history. In the 2024 national poll, the ANC's support dropped by nearly ten points from the previous year, winning only 40.2% of the vote. This marks the first time the party has failed to secure more than half the vote in a nationwide election.
The ANC still holds the largest share of seats, with control in 53 municipalities and leading in 128. However, this is a significant decline from previous years, and the party's urban base is particularly weak. The cities, where most economic activity and service delivery complaints originate, delivered harsh verdicts on the party. The ANC failed to win the most seats in six of the eight metropolitan areas, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) leading in five.
The struggle for control is most pronounced in Gauteng, where the DA took Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni in provisional counts. In Cape Town, the DA emerged as the largest party. The party's rural base remains stronger, with the ANC performing well in provinces like Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. However, the party's urban weakness poses a significant challenge as it seeks to maintain control in future elections.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
