The African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst municipal election result, with its support falling to 30.81% in the 2026 municipal elections. This marks a significant decline from its 45.6% support in the 2021 municipal elections and 64.9% in 2006. The party no longer holds an outright majority in any metro, with 99% of results captured by the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) results dashboard.
ANC insiders are reflecting on the party's performance, with President Cyril Ramaphosa considering his future in the party. The party's top seven, its most senior office-bearers, are also assessing their positions. Former minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who lost the race for the party presidency to Ramaphosa in 2017, called for the party's leadership to take responsibility for the result.
Dlamini-Zuma emphasized the need for the ANC to "work hard to come to the people, understand the people's needs and address them" with humility, integrity, and compassion. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula acknowledged the party's shortcomings, stating that it would "be humble" in defeat and work to address its shortcomings, including service delivery failures.
The ANC's support has plummeted over the last 20 years, resulting in its worst local government elections showing since the dawn of democracy in 1994. In Johannesburg, the party has 20.27% of the vote, down from 58.56% in 2011, while in Tshwane it has 20.22%, down from 55.32%. In Ekurhuleni, the ANC has 22.11%, compared with 61.63% in 2011.
Analysts attribute the ANC's losses to various factors, including service delivery failures and corruption. Louw Nel, a senior political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, said the result could make the positions of the top seven "untenable" and lead to calls for Ramaphosa to step down. The ANC's next elective conference is scheduled for December 2027.
The MK Party, led by Jacob Zuma, has been cited as a beneficiary of the ANC's losses. Advocate Dali Mpofu, an MK Party high command member, claimed that his party had driven the ANC's losses. However, Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, a political analyst at Nelson Mandela University, noted that the ANC's support remains strong in rural areas, where traditional leaders have a significant influence.
The ANC's decline in urban centers has been particularly pronounced, with the party losing support to various parties, including the MK Party, EFF, ActionSA, IFP, and smaller regional parties. As the party reflects on its performance, it faces pressure to address its shortcomings and regain the trust of its supporters. The ANC's leadership will need to assess its strategy and make changes to reverse the party's decline.
Key points
- ANC's support falls to 30.81% in 2026 municipal elections
- Party no longer holds outright majority in any metro
- Leadership and coalition pressure expected to increase following poor result
