South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) recorded its worst local‑government performance in more than three decades, a result the party has described as “catastrophic.” The party, which once dominated the nation’s politics, secured only 31% of the overall vote, a sharp decline from the 46% it captured in 2021 and a distant echo of the 65% it achieved two decades ago.
While the ANC still topped the national vote, its influence has eroded across provinces and cities. It won a majority in just one of the nine provinces—Limpopo—down from six in 2021. In urban areas, the party’s lead shrank to two of eight cities, compared with six in the previous local elections.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second overall with 25% of the vote, maintaining its majority control of Cape Town. Former president Jacob Zuma’s Movement for Democratic Change (MK) secured third place nationwide with 10%, taking over Durban from the ANC. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, came in fourth with 6%.
ANC secretary‑general Fikile Mbalula called the outcome “a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC.” He cited rising living costs and a shift of the middle class away from the party as key factors. “We knew this disaster is coming, we’re staring at it,” Mbalula said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also heads the ANC, entered the counting centre on Sunday night and accepted the results with humility. “We accept the will of the people however concerning it might be,” he remarked, adding that the decline was “concerning.”
The local elections come after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections, forcing it to form a coalition government known as the Government of National Unity (GNU). The DA’s gains in urban areas were modest, rising only slightly from 22% in 2021 to 27% in 2016, while overall voter turnout increased to 52% from 46% in the pandemic‑affected 2021 elections.
Political analyst Susan Booysen warned that the results send a “devastating message” to the ANC, highlighting a nationwide decline in support at municipal, metropolitan, provincial, and national levels. The party’s future strategy will need to address the growing disaffection among voters, particularly the middle class, who have turned away in large numbers.
Source: BBC World
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