South Africa votes in local elections with many parties
The poll tests support for the ANC and determines the make-up of hundreds of local councils.
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South Africans vote on Wednesday for new municipal councils. The elections are an important test for the ANC, which lost support in previous elections and has governed in a national coalition since 2024.
The elections determine the make-up of the councils of eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities. Voters elect councillors; those councils then elect the mayors.
According to the AP news agency, 546 political parties are taking part. A report by the South African government said the electoral commission had previously certified 136,790 candidates. Where no party wins a majority, cooperation between parties may be necessary.
The ANC, which largely dominated South Africa from the end of apartheid, won less than half of the vote for the first time in the 2021 local elections. In the 2024 national elections, the party also lost its parliamentary majority.
The ANC subsequently formed a government of national unity with, among others, the Democratic Alliance. AP describes how the parties compete with each other at local level. According to AP, the DA is trying to gain ground in Johannesburg; Helen Zille is a prominent candidate for the mayoralty there.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party of former president Jacob Zuma is also taking part in local elections for the first time. The party secured a strong position in the 2024 national elections, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.
For many voters, the election is about municipal services. AP reported problems with roads, rubbish collection and sewerage in Johannesburg. According to AP, parts of the city also faced problems with water supplies before the election.
The official result was not yet available on Wednesday evening. At stake is not only which party wins the most votes, but also which coalitions prove capable of governing in municipalities where no party secures a majority on its own.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- South Africa held local elections on 4 November.
- The ANC has lost support since 2021 and no longer has a parliamentary majority nationally.
- The elections determine municipal councils; mayors are elected by those councils.
- Voters cite problems with local services as a reason to vote.
Left
Arguments The elections should primarily be seen as a reckoning with failing public services and inequality. Greater political competition could give local communities more influence over water, waste, housing and infrastructure.
Values Equality, public services and democratic accountability are central.
Consequences A further decline of the ANC could create room for new parties, but fragmentation could make it harder to improve services structurally.
Centre
Arguments The key question is which coalitions can govern stably while remaining accountable. Changing parties is not in itself a solution if municipalities are struggling with weak implementation and limited resources.
Values Administrative continuity, institutional reliability and practical results.
Consequences Coalitions can provide broader representation, but need clear agreements and oversight to prevent decision-making from being blocked.
Right
Arguments The elections show that voters hold parties accountable for the government's core responsibilities. Municipalities must be governed more efficiently and leave less room for mismanagement and politically motivated appointments.
Values Responsibility, order, efficiency and reliable services.
Consequences A change of power can bring administrative renewal, but rapid coalition changes can also cause uncertainty and governmental paralysis.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key facts about the election day, the administrative structure, the number of parties and the ANC's position were confirmed by AP and official South African sources. The text makes clear that the result and coalition formation have not yet been settled.
- confirmed South Africa held local elections on 4 November 2026. — The date and election day were reported by AP and the official electoral commission. source
- confirmed The elections determine councils in eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 districts and 205 local municipalities. — These figures appear in the AP report. source
- confirmed 546 political parties took part. — AP names 546 parties; SABC had earlier reported 547 parties during the candidate nomination phase. The article uses the current AP figure and does not present the difference as a result. source
- confirmed The ANC won less than half of the vote for the first time in local elections in 2021. — This appears in the AP report. source
- confirmed The official result was not yet available on Wednesday evening. — The sources consulted described the voting and the expected closing of polling stations, not a definitive result. source
Editor's note
The election day, the number of parties, the governing stakes and the ANC's position were confirmed by AP and South African election sources. The result and the consequences for coalitions were still uncertain at the time of publication.Sources
- Local elections in South Africa will decide if the ANC falls further — Associated Press
- Electoral Commission Certifies 136 790 Candidates to Contest 2026 Local Government Elections — South African Government
- 547 political parties to contest 2026 LGE: IEC — SABC News
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