The African National Congress (ANC) is facing a difficult balancing act after suffering major losses in the 2026 local government elections. The party has been pushed out of the leading position in several key metropolitan councils, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni, where the Democratic Alliance (DA) has emerged as the leading party. With 99% of the national votes counted, the ANC secured 30.88% of valid votes, leading in 125 of 213 municipalities.
The ANC's provincial support dropped sharply compared to 2021. In KwaZulu-Natal, its share fell 20.7 percentage points, as the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party secured 34.2%. In the Free State, it dropped 13.4 points, and in the Western Cape, six points. In Gauteng, where the ANC led Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni in 2021, the DA has now emerged as the leading party in all three.
The ANC's losses are not confined to Gauteng. The party's support ranged from 13.95% in Cape Town to 41.93% in Buffalo City across eight metros. In Johannesburg, the ANC secured 20.25% (59 seats); in Ekurhuleni, 21.9% (55 seats); and in Tshwane, 20.29% (44 seats). The results emphasize the scale of the ANC's electoral setback and the challenge confronting its leadership as it prepares to enter coalition negotiations across the country.
The immediate question is whether the ANC can get its leadership aligned on a coalition strategy before the new councils begin their work, in 14 days. The ANC's Top Seven officials are expected to meet to assess the outcome, followed by a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to determine the strategic direction forward. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula noted officials would analyze results ahead of the NEC, while continuing talks with parties.
Mbalula termed the ANC's performance "catastrophic," attributing losses to cost-of-living pressures, particularly among middle-class voters in Gauteng, and campaign shortcomings by senior leaders. He also noted strong DA turnout and gains among black middle-class voters. The ANC has yet to publish a formal local coalition strategy, and Mbalula stressed the ANC will not rush into coalitions or compromise service delivery continuity.
One of the most politically significant questions facing the ANC is whether it will consider working with the DA at local government level, despite the tensions that have emerged between the parties in the GNU. The ANC's national coalition with the DA has been a source of discontent among some of its members, who have questioned the party's decision to govern alongside a political opponent with whom it has fundamental policy differences.
Alternatively, ActionSA presents an avenue for influence, with strong Gauteng performances positioning the party for key roles in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. An agreement between the ANC, ActionSA, and smaller parties could challenge DA-led metros. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has said the party is prepared to negotiate with any party.
Key points
- ANC suffers major losses in 2026 local government elections
- Party forced to negotiate coalitions to retain municipal influence
- ANC's provincial support drops sharply in several regions
