South Africa's ANC party on track to face 'nightmare' losses in municipal elections

What the report says

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) was on course for a steep setback in municipal elections, according to early results reported by France 24 and Reuters. With more than two-thirds of ballots counted, the party had about 32% of the vote, while its main challenger, the Democratic Alliance, was at 25%. The final outcome was expected later on Friday, and the ANC’s share would represent its worst result in this type of vote if the numbers held.

The preliminary tally points to a continued erosion of support for the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. The report linked the party’s decline to persistent public frustration over crime, unemployment, corruption scandals and weak delivery of basic services such as water and electricity. The ANC has already been forced to share power nationally after the 2024 election, underlining its weakening position.

The result could leave several major cities without a clear winner, including Johannesburg and Tshwane, while the Democratic Alliance appeared headed for an outright majority in Cape Town. In Durban’s eThekwini municipality, the count remained uncertain and former president Jacob Zuma’s breakaway party was also competing for influence. Analysts said coalition negotiations may determine who governs the biggest urban centers, making the outcome important for political stability and local service delivery.