South Africa’s ANC Suffers Worst-Ever Election Defeat

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has recorded its worst-ever electoral performance in the country’s local government elections, securing just 30.76 per cent of the national vote.

The final results, announced by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Sunday, November 8, represent a significant decline for the party that led the country out of apartheid under former President Nelson Mandela in 1994.

Despite remaining the largest political party nationally, the ANC’s latest performance has weakened its position in several major cities and increased the likelihood of coalition negotiations to form municipal governments.

The results also reflect growing voter dissatisfaction with unemployment, corruption and persistent failures in basic public services.

ANC Support Falls From 45.59 Per Cent

The ANC secured 30.76 per cent of the vote, compared with 45.59 per cent in the 2021 local government elections.

Its closest challenger, the Democratic Alliance (DA), finished second with 24.64 per cent, while former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party secured 9.76 per cent.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, received 6.22 per cent.

The results represent a major shift in the country’s political landscape, with the ANC losing further ground after it failed to secure a parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections.

Although the party remains the largest nationally, it failed to secure outright control of any of the country’s eight major metropolitan municipalities.

Poor Public Services Contribute to ANC’s Decline

The ANC’s declining electoral support has been linked to growing frustration over the performance of local governments.

Residents in several communities have complained about unreliable water supplies, electricity interruptions, deteriorating roads, poor street lighting and inadequate waste collection.

Unemployment, which remains above 34 per cent, and longstanding corruption allegations have also contributed to dissatisfaction with the governing party.

Reuters reported that the ANC’s vote share has steadily declined over the past 15 years, partly because of failures in delivering essential municipal services.

The party’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, described the election outcome as catastrophic and acknowledged that the ANC needed to rebuild public confidence.

He said the party must listen to voters and address the issues responsible for its declining support.

DA and Zuma’s MK Party Make Gains

The Democratic Alliance strengthened its position, securing 24.64 per cent of the national vote and retaining control of Cape Town.

The party also emerged as the leading political force in several metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party secured 9.76 per cent, finishing third nationally.

The party made significant gains in KwaZulu-Natal, where it displaced the ANC as the leading political force in important areas, including the eThekwini metropolitan municipality.

The EFF finished fourth with 6.22 per cent, while ActionSA secured 5.67 per cent.

The results show that voter support is increasingly distributed among multiple political parties rather than concentrated around the ANC.

Coalition Talks Set to Shape Municipal Governments

With no single party securing an outright majority in many municipalities, political parties now face negotiations to determine who will control local councils.

According to Reuters, the number of municipalities requiring coalition arrangements has more than doubled compared with the 2021 elections.

The ANC and DA will need to negotiate with smaller parties in several areas to secure the numbers required to form municipal governments.

Parties have 14 days to negotiate before the formation of the new city councils.

The outcome of these discussions will determine how major municipalities are governed and which political parties control important local administrative positions.

Smaller parties could also gain significant negotiating influence despite receiving relatively modest shares of the national vote.

What the Election Results Mean for South Africa

The ANC’s latest electoral performance marks another important stage in the transformation of South Africa’s political system.

For more than three decades, the party maintained a dominant position in national politics following the end of apartheid.

However, its declining support, the emergence of stronger opposition parties and the growing number of coalition-dependent municipalities indicate a more fragmented political environment.

The results also increase pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC leadership to address public dissatisfaction and restore confidence in the party.

While the ANC remains the largest political party nationally, its ability to govern major cities will increasingly depend on negotiations and cooperation with other parties.

The coming coalition discussions will therefore be crucial in determining the direction of local governance and the ANC’s efforts to rebuild its political standing ahead of future national elections.