The African National Congress (ANC) lost significant control across key municipalities in the Eastern Cape during the 2026 local government elections, with emergent civic movements claiming important footholds. In Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality, the Ngcobo-based Ngcobo Youth Civic Organisation (NYCO) won three council seats, amid the ANC retaining a reduced majority of 24 out of 38 seats — down from 32 of 39 in 2021.
NYCO emerged from sustained community protests over poor service delivery, including damaged roads, malfunctioning streetlights, inadequate toilets, and failing water supply. The group’s chairperson, Gcobani Nkwele, said residents’ frustration reflects a deep sense of betrayal: “They are angry because their money has been stolen.” These grievances culminated in repeated demonstrations throughout 2025 and early 2026, with the organisation leading large-scale marches to support municipal workers and demand improved services.
Further north, the Makana United Civic Movement (MUCM) secured four council seats in its first election contest, breaking the ANC’s majority in Makana Local Municipality for the first time. The ANC won 10 of 25 seats, while the DA claimed six seats and smaller parties including ActionSA and the Makana Citizens Front took one seat each. MUCM chairperson Andile Peter emphasised the group’s community-centred focus: “We will go into any coalition that puts the best interests of the people of Makhanda [first].” Coalition talks involve MUCM engaging with the DA and other smaller parties as the balance of power takes shape.
Independent election results confirm the decline of ANC majorities across the province. GroundUp analysis reports the party now holds outright majorities in only 19 of the Eastern Cape’s local councils, down from 29 in 2021, with 12 councils declared hung. Buffalo City Metro saw the ANC lose its majority for the first time since its formation in 2011, while in Nelson Mandela Bay the DA emerged as the largest party with 53 of 120 seats but without a majority.
This trend signals a notable shift in Eastern Cape politics where voters are increasingly turning to civic movements born out of grassroots service delivery struggles. These movements are translating years of local protest into electoral influence, challenging the longstanding dominance of national parties perceived as failing on corruption, accountability, and basic municipal services.
The pattern raises questions about the future of governance in the province as coalition negotiations become critical to council stability. While the ANC remains a significant force, its reduced control reflects growing voter dissatisfaction and the appeal of locally rooted alternatives.
Details about NYCO’s protests, including arrests and ongoing municipal investigations, remain to be independently verified. Cape Flats News will continue monitoring developments in the Eastern Cape’s evolving political landscape and coalition outcomes in municipalities like Makana and Buffalo City.