In brief
In the November 2026 local government elections, South Africa's ruling African National Congress retained its status as the largest party, winning 30.76% of votes—a more than 14‑point drop from the 2021 elections, according to the Electoral Commission. While the party lost ground in key economic centres such as Mangaung, the results still grant it the most seats nationally.
In the November 2026 local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) remained the largest party in South Africa, claiming 30.76% of the national vote, a sharp decline of more than 14 percentage points compared with the 2021 results, an announcement by the Electoral Commission of South Africa on Sunday, according to Xinhua.
The Electoral Commission's final tally, released early on Sunday, indicated that the ANC captured 30.76 percent of the nationwide vote share, a figure that, while the lowest it has achieved in a local election, still places the party ahead of every other contender in the country.
By contrast, the party’s vote share fell from 44.80 percent in the 2021 local elections, highlighting a significant erosion of support over the five‑year span. The 14‑point contraction reflects a larger trend of voter shift in urban and regional areas.
Citing the Daily Standard, the ANC’s loss of dominance was pronounced in major economic hubs, including Mangaung, where the party reportedly ceded influence to opposition forces. The Daily Standard noted that the group “faces a stark reality, having ceded influence in major economic centers like Mangaung.”
Despite the downturn, the ANC still holds the largest number of seats across all municipal councils. According to the same commission report, the party’s seat total outstrips each opponent by a margin that reflects the still‑decent base of support.
Nationally, the ANC’s 30.76 percent share positions it ahead of the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition, which garnered a lower percentage of the vote and fewer seats, as confirmed by election observers on the ground.
Analysts at the time of the release highlighted the continued dominance of the ANC in a country grappling with economic and social challenges, noting that the party’s foothold in national politics remains resilient, if not increasingly contested.
In reporting the findings, Xinhua described the results as a “sharp decline in voter support” but used the term “largest party” to highlight that the ANC still holds a plurality of seats, marking a notable, albeit reduced, presence in South African local governance.
Al Jazeera echoed the sense of a setback, reporting that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party wins just over 30 percent nationally in the 2026 local elections and that the party’s performance suggests a waning, yet still significant, influence in the country’s political landscape.
