ANC Records Worst-Ever Results in South African Local Elections

Published 2026-11-08

The African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's governing party, has recorded its worst-ever results in local government elections, according to a report from the BBC. The outcome is a significant change for a party that has led the country since the first democratic elections in 1994.

Local elections decide who runs municipalities, which are responsible for services such as water, electricity, refuse collection and local roads. Voters in cities, towns and rural areas choose councillors, and these councillors then help decide how local budgets are spent. Because municipal services affect daily life, many people follow these elections closely.

The poor result comes at a time when many South Africans have raised concerns about issues such as unemployment, service delivery and corruption at local government level. Political analysts often point to these problems when they explain why voters may move away from a party that has held power for many years. The BBC report does not give full details of every result, so the exact number of seats and areas affected is not clear from the available information.

The result is likely to affect how the ANC organises itself and how it works with other parties in coalitions, especially in municipalities where no single party has a clear majority. Coalition talks can take time, and the final arrangements may shape local government for the next several years.

For residents, the most important question is how the new councils will deal with the basic services that communities depend on every day. Further updates on the final results and the formation of local governments are expected in the coming weeks.

Sources: BBC

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