South Africa’s local elections are heading towards difficult coalition talks as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) faces another major decline in voter support.
With 90% of votes counted, the ANC had secured nearly 31% of the national vote. However, it remained the country’s largest party.
According to Africanews and AFP, the ANC is unlikely to win an outright majority in any of South Africa’s eight major metropolitan areas.
As a result, several cities could face lengthy negotiations over who will govern them.
ANC loses ground in South Africa’s local elections
The ANC has continued to lose support since its decades of political dominance following the end of apartheid.
Many voters remain frustrated by unemployment, corruption and poor public services.
South Africa’s unemployment rate stands above 34%, adding pressure on the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has gained ground. It had secured around 25% of the vote as counting continued.
The party has also moved ahead in several urban contests, including Johannesburg.
Its Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, is a veteran politician and former mayor of Cape Town.
However, the DA’s national support remains below its 2016 peak.
MK party emerges as a major contender
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party is also making gains in South Africa’s local elections.
Led by former President Jacob Zuma, MK is contesting municipal elections for the first time since its formation in 2023.
The party is expected to finish third nationally.
It would therefore move ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema.
According to analysts cited by AFP, MK has benefited from the decline in ANC support.
Its emergence has also made South Africa’s political landscape more divided.
Coalition talks could reshape major cities
With no clear majorities in several metropolitan areas, political parties will need to negotiate governing agreements.
However, previous municipal coalitions have often struggled with internal disputes.
These disagreements have sometimes disrupted local government and delayed basic services.
Political analyst Daniel Silke told AFP that voters in Gauteng might prefer a coalition between the DA and ActionSA.
However, tensions between the two parties could make such an agreement difficult.
Meanwhile, existing alliances at the national level could further complicate local negotiations.
Voter turnout rises as final results approach
Despite growing political frustration, voter participation increased.
According to South Africa’s electoral commission, an estimated 54.5% of the country’s 29.2 million registered voters cast ballots.
That compares with 46% in the 2021 local elections.
Final results are expected on Sunday, November 8.
The outcome will determine which parties can govern South Africa’s major cities and whether they can form stable coalitions.
For now, the ANC remains the largest party. However, the results suggest that coalition politics will play an even greater role in the country’s local government.