Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
ANC wins about 31% in South African local elections, its worst result
South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) won about 31% of the vote in local elections, its worst result to date.
The party’s spokesperson said President Cyril Ramaphosa is not under pressure to resign, rejecting claims he had considered stepping down.
Voters’ frustration over unemployment, corruption and poor delivery of basic services has eroded support for the ANC over time.
Support is now spread across more parties, and no party won a majority in many major cities, so coalitions will be needed to run local governments.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee is due to meet to decide its approach to coalition negotiations and address the party’s shortcomings.
The Democratic Alliance made gains in several major cities, while the newer uMkhonto weSizwe party performed strongly in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC is due to elect its next leader in December 2027, when Ramaphosa is expected to make way after two five-year terms.
The African National Congress won about 31% of the vote in South Africa’s local elections, its worst result to date.
The result was down from 46% at the previous municipal elections in 2021.
The ANC faces pressure to address public frustration over unemployment, poor services and governance failures.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said President Cyril Ramaphosa was not under pressure to resign.
Opposition parties made gains, and coalitions will be needed to run some local governments.
- Who
- South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
- What
- The ANC won about 31% of the vote in local elections, a record low for the party.
- When
- The elections took place last week, according to the Straits Times article published November 12, 2026.
- Where
- South Africa.
- Why
- The result reflected public frustration over unemployment, poor service delivery, local governance failures and corruption.
ANC leadership
Thabo Mbeki
Ramaphosa’s position
ANC leadership
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said Ramaphosa was not under pressure to resign and that he was going nowhere.
Thabo Mbeki
Mbeki said it would be right for Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders to resign over the party’s election performance.
The ANC won 46% of the vote in the previous municipal elections.
The ANC won about 31% in local elections, according to the Straits Times.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said Ramaphosa was not under pressure to resign ahead of a party National Executive Committee meeting on coalition negotiations.
The ANC is due to elect its next leader, when Ramaphosa will make way after two five-year terms at the helm of the party.
- ANC vote share
- About 31%
- Previous municipal vote
- 46% in 2021
- ANC leader
- President Cyril Ramaphosa
- ANC spokesperson
- Mahlengi Bhengu
- Next ANC leadership election
- December 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
The president is going nowhere
There is no pressure on the part of this leadership collective for the president to leave
You're talking about issues like water, electricity, housing, public services at the basic municipal level. And those kinds of things have been key issues.
people are losing hope