The African National Congress (ANC) has experienced a substantial decline in support during South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections. The ANC saw its vote count drop by over 1.5 million compared to the 2021 elections, receiving 9.16 million votes, a decrease from 10.69 million. Despite this loss, the ANC remains the largest political party in the country, although its national vote share fell significantly from 45.59% to 30.76%.
In contrast, the Democratic Alliance (DA) made significant gains, increasing its vote count from 5.07 million in the previous election to 7.33 million in 2026. This brought its national vote share to 24.64%, narrowing the gap with the ANC. The newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party also made a notable impact by securing 2.91 million votes, which translated to 9.77% of the national vote, placing it third overall.
While some parties gained momentum, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saw a decline, losing over 567,000 votes and ending up with approximately 1.85 million. However, ActionSA showed growth by increasing its votes from around 548,000 in 2021 to 1.69 million in 2026. Other parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, and Patriotic Alliance, also registered gains.
The election outcomes have led to 138 municipalities without a clear majority, necessitating coalition talks to form local governments. The ANC is expected to engage in negotiations with other parties to maintain or achieve control of several councils. This shift in political support underscores the growing importance of coalition governments in shaping South Africa’s municipal administration over the next five years.