No clear winners in 2026 local government elections
South Africa's major metros are unlikely to return to outright majority rule in the 2026 local government elections due to continued fragmentation and a weakened ANC. The DA shows signs of recovery in key urban centres, but no single party is expected to dominate.
South Africa's major metros are unlikely to return to outright majority rule in the 2026 local government elections. An analysis of the 2016 and 2021 local government elections shows voter movement has shifted away from the ANC versus DA contest into a more dispersed multiparty environment. The ANC lost 118 seats across eight key metros from 2016 to 2021, while the DA lost 115. ActionSA, a newer entrant, secured 144 seats in 2021, with its strongest showing in Gauteng metros. The EFF and Freedom Front Plus also gained seats. Johannesburg saw significant change, with the ANC dropping from 44.2% to 33.2% and the DA from 38% to 25.9%, while ActionSA entered with 16.1%. Other metros, including Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, show similar patterns. The 2024 national and provincial elections reinforced these trends, with the ANC continuing to lose support.
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