South Africa will head to the polls for its next municipal elections on November 4, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in a post on X on Thursday, setting the date for a closely watched local government vote.
Municipal elections in South Africa are typically held every five years, and the announcement ends months of speculation over the timing of the next ballot.
The vote is expected to test the strength of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has historically underperformed in local elections compared to national contests. Analysts say municipal polls often serve as a barometer for public dissatisfaction, particularly over declining service delivery, including infrastructure such as roads and water systems.
In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC’s support dropped below 50% for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, marking a significant political shift.
That outcome foreshadowed the 2024 national elections, where the ANC lost its parliamentary majority and was forced to form a broad coalition government, allowing Ramaphosa to remain in power as president.