South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst-ever local election result, winning around 30% of the vote.
The result marks another major setback for the party that led South Africa out of apartheid under Nelson Mandela.
According to Al Jazeera, the ANC’s poor performance reflects a major shift in the country’s political landscape. It also raises questions about the party’s future and its ability to retain control of local governments.
ANC wins just 30% of local election vote
The ANC secured around 30% of the vote in South Africa’s latest local elections, according to Al Jazeera’s November 9 report.
The result represents a historic low for the governing party in municipal elections.
For decades, the ANC dominated South African politics. Its role in ending apartheid helped it build strong support across the country.
However, its electoral position has weakened over time.
The latest result shows how far the party’s support has fallen since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
South Africa’s political landscape changes
The ANC’s election setback could reshape local politics across South Africa.
Municipal elections determine who governs cities, towns and local councils. These authorities oversee essential services and local infrastructure.
With the ANC receiving only around 30% of the national vote, cooperation between political parties could become increasingly important.
However, the national vote share alone does not determine which parties will control individual municipalities.
Those outcomes depend on local results, council seats and possible coalition agreements.
ANC faces questions over its future
The election result adds to the challenges facing the ANC as it seeks to rebuild public support.
The party has already experienced a major decline in its national electoral strength.
In the 2024 general election, it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid.
The latest local election result represents another significant setback.
Nevertheless, the ANC remains an important force in South African politics.
Its next challenge will be to assess the election outcome and determine how to strengthen its position before future contests.
Coalition negotiations could shape local government
Attention is now expected to turn towards the formation of municipal governments.
Where no party wins a majority of council seats, parties may need to negotiate coalition arrangements.
These discussions could determine who leads important municipalities and how local services are managed.
For South Africa, the result signals a further move away from decades of ANC electoral dominance.
The coming negotiations will help determine how that political shift affects local government.