South Africa’s 2026 municipal elections delivered a fragmented outcome, with the African National Congress (ANC) securing roughly 31.7% of the vote and coalition politics set to dominate 110 hung municipal councils, according to IOL reporting and the IEC election results dashboard.
With about 95% of the national vote counted, the IEC dashboard showed the ANC holding 1,476,076 votes or 31.68% nationally. This represents a sharp decline from the party’s 46% vote share in the 2021 municipal elections and just over 40% in the 2024 national polls.
The ANC’s drop to nearly 32% reflects an all-time low in local elections, placing the party under significant pressure as coalition talks become central in many municipalities. France 24, citing IEC data, confirmed the ANC remained the largest party but noted this reduced support as historic.
Louw Nel, senior political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, told France 24, “(The turnout) suggests that ANC voters did not stay away as many expected but rather showed up and voted for alternative parties,” adding, “The ANC is performing worse than expected, and expectations were already low.”
Within the Western Cape specifically, the IEC’s Michael Hendrickse reported that, by 6pm on 5 November, at least 13 councils were hung, with only four outright majorities out of 17 completed councils. This highlights the fragmented nature of control in the province.
Nationally, IOL reported the IEC dashboard confirmed 110 hung councils, underscoring the scale of coalition politics set to shape governance across the country. However, this figure has not been independently verified with multiple sources and may adjust as final results and official declarations emerge.
Complicating the finalisation of results, EWN reported the IEC was still managing over 800 complaints from various political parties, with about 106 unresolved as of Thursday, reflecting ongoing tensions and electoral disputes.
The decline in ANC dominance and the surge in hung councils point to an electorate shifting away from one-party control towards more negotiated governance structures, a possibility that could reshape municipal politics and service delivery dynamics nationwide.
Final official results and certification of municipal control remain pending as the IEC continues to address complaints and confirm outstanding tallies. CapeFlats.co.za will provide ongoing updates on developments in coalition formation and corresponding political shifts affecting communities around Cape Town and beyond.