The Democratic Alliance (DA) has claimed a significant milestone in the South African local government elections, asserting that it has garnered one million black votes, thereby overtaking the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). This development comes as the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) continues to count and verify votes cast in the recent municipal elections. With 43.3% of voting districts currently processed, the African National Congress (ANC) and DA are leading the national tally.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has taken a firm stance on potential coalition governments, stating that it will not enter into agreements with corrupt individuals or parties. This position was made clear as the IEC continues with the vote counting and verification process, with final results expected to be announced in the coming days. The ATM currently holds roughly 0.9% of the vote, placing it outside the top 10 parties nationally.
The DA's claim of one million black votes marks a significant moment for the party, which has been working to expand its support base. According to reports, the DA is celebrating a major milestone, with party leader Geordin Hill-Lewis addressing supporters outside the IEC results centre in Century City. The party's growth in support, particularly among black voters, is seen as a key factor in its election gains.
ActionSA is gaining ground in Gauteng, with early results showing the party in a potentially influential position in coalition negotiations. The party's national spokesperson, Michael Beaumont, reflected on the party's performance and political ambitions, stating that they are encouraged by early local government election results in Gauteng. ActionSA appears to be on course to strengthen its position in the City of Tshwane and increase its influence ahead of the 2029 national and provincial elections.
The IEC has reported that the 2026 local government election results are being processed at a faster pace than during the previous municipal elections. By 9 am on Thursday, 18 municipalities had completed the results process, with 23,444 results slips received, representing 35.5% of the expected results. The commission's chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, stated that 22,983 results slips had been captured into the results system, while 16,791 had undergone independent auditing.
KwaZulu-Natal's preliminary voter turnout stood at 48.7%, above the national figure of 45.8% on Thursday morning. Provincial electoral officer Ntombifuthi Masinga noted that the figures remained provisional, with only 18% of the province's results captured and 12% audited. The turnout figures put KZN 2.9 percentage points ahead of the national average, but Masinga cautioned that outstanding results could change the picture.
As vote counting continues, the ANC is currently leading with 1.34 million votes, followed by the DA with 1.27 million, and the MK Party with 240,000 votes. In Gauteng, the DA is leading with 39.26%, followed by the ANC with 18.55%, and ActionSA at 15.17%. The final results are expected to be announced in the coming days, with various parties positioning themselves for potential coalition governments.
Key points
- The DA has claimed one million black votes, overtaking the EFF in the process.
- ActionSA is gaining ground in Gauteng, potentially influencing coalition negotiations.
- The IEC reports faster results processing, with 35.5% of expected results received.
