{
  "id": 18762688,
  "title": "South Africa's ANC facing worst-ever performance in local elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/south-africas-anc-facing-worst-ever-performance-in-local-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T18:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/south-africa-s-anc-facing-worst-ever-performance-in-local-elections/a-79887482?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is on track for its worst-ever performance in local elections, according to preliminary results. The near-final tally indicates the ANC securing just over 30% of the vote, down from 40% in nationwide polls held last year. The party also lost its majority in six out of the eight metropolitan regions, according to the South African Electoral Commission.\n\nVoters are frustrated by ongoing issues such as water and electricity shortages, high unemployment, crime, and widespread corruption, all of which are blamed on the ANC. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the head of the ANC, has not yet commented on the results but admitted in a recent letter that municipal failures have eroded public trust and confidence in democratic governance.\n\nANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula acknowledged the catastrophic outcome for the party, stating that they cannot expect trust without acknowledging their history. He emphasized that this was a very severe result for the movement. Political analyst Daniel Silke described the ANC's performance as the worst in its history and warned it could undermine the party's authority locally and nationally.\n\nThe results may also serve as a harbinger of voter sentiment ahead of the 2029 general elections. The Democratic Alliance (DA), a pro-business center-right party, is expected to be the runner-up, garnering 24% of the vote. The DA, which currently controls Cape Town, is poised to form coalitions without the ANC, potentially reshaping South Africa's political landscape.",
  "summary": "Near-final results show South Africa's once dominant ANC will see its lowest-ever vote percentage. The party is taking the blame for shoddy municipal services, including water and electricity shortages.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-11-07T13:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/weather-alert-heres-what-to-expect-across-south-africa-on-sunday",
        "published": "2026-11-07T16:27:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}