The African National Congress (ANC) is facing significant losses in the 2026 local elections, with the party's support eroding in both cities and rural areas. According to results still being counted on Wednesday afternoon, the ANC is losing majorities in several municipalities, including Thaba Chweu and Victor Khanye in Mpumalanga. The party is also being wiped out in some areas, such as Endumeni and Impendle in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC's losses are not limited to urban areas, as the party is also struggling in rural municipalities and provinces where it once enjoyed wall-to-wall support. In the Eastern Cape, the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality could be lost by the party to a DA-led coalition. The ANC has sustained heavy losses across Gauteng, not just in the three metros, but also in areas such as Lesedi, Mogale City, and Emfuleni.
The party's vulnerability is also evident in wards across Soweto, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve, and Tembisa – areas that used to be the ANC's strongholds. The CSIR's election model is forecasting declines for the ANC at the national level, as well as significant declines in the Free State and North-West provinces. These areas were previously considered to be strongholds for the party.
On the other hand, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA are showing growth, eating into the ANC's and EFF's vote share without seemingly affecting each other's success. The DA has declared a victory in Cape Town, citing significant growth in townships. The party's success in these areas could be a sign of a shift in the electoral landscape.
ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has urged caution, saying it is too early to draw firm conclusions from the results. He argued that several major areas, including townships, were still to be counted, and that the party could improve from 32%, its share of the national vote at the time. However, the signs are dire for the ANC, and the party's losses could have significant implications for its future.
The election results are being closely watched, with many analysts predicting a significant shift in the electoral landscape. The DA and ActionSA's growth could be a sign of a new era in South African politics, with voters increasingly turning away from the ANC. The ANC's losses could also have implications for the party's leadership and its ability to govern effectively.
As the vote counting continues, one thing is clear: the 2026 local elections have been marked by significant losses for the ANC. The party's support has eroded in both cities and rural areas, and it is facing significant challenges in areas that were once considered strongholds. The DA and ActionSA's growth could be a sign of a new era in South African politics, and the ANC will need to regroup and reassess its strategy in the wake of these losses.
Key points
- ANC's support erodes in cities and rural areas as ActionSA and DA gain ground
- Party faces significant losses in municipalities and provinces, including Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal
- DA and ActionSA show growth, eating into ANC's and EFF's vote share
