South Africa's local elections: ANC near 32%, DA second, MK takes four KwaZulu-Natal councils
Turnout rose to about 54.5%, and coalition talks are expected in several big cities. Final results are due by Sunday.
Johannesburg — With about 80% of votes counted on Friday, South Africa's African National Congress had nearly 32% in Wednesday's local elections, still the largest party but on course for its lowest share ever. It won 46% at the last municipal elections in 2021 and just over 40% at the 2024 national election.
The Democratic Alliance was second with just over 24%, up from nearly 22% in 2021. It was set to keep Cape Town and was leading in Johannesburg. Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, contesting local elections for the first time, was third with just over 9% and leading in eThekwini, which includes Durban.
About 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters took part, a turnout of around 54.5%, up from 46% in 2021. Final results are expected by Sunday.
MK's first councils
By Friday night, with 90% counted in KwaZulu-Natal, MK had taken the lead in four municipalities the ANC used to run, including an outright 56% in Richmond, and was ahead in 14 more without a majority. It had won 431 council seats across the province.
Coalition talks
With outright majorities unlikely in several cities, parties are preparing for talks. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said it was "time now to rise above ... and to put together governments that can actually fix these towns and cities".
Sources: Africanews/AFP, Daily Maverick, November 2026.
