ANC gets 30% in South Africa’s election, partial results show

The African National Congress suffered a major setback in South Africa’s local government election. With 80 percent of votes counted, the ANC had 31.8 percent, or about one-third of support. It was still the largest party, but the result was far below its earlier performances. This matters because municipalities control many services that shape daily life.

The decline reflects anger over failing water supplies, persistent power cuts, and crumbling public services. The ANC has governed since taking power when South Africa became a democracy in 1994. Its support was nearly 70 percent in 2004, 46 percent in the 2021 municipal election, and just over 40 percent in the 2024 national election.

The final result was expected by Sunday. The Democratic Alliance was second with 24.2 percent, up from nearly 22 percent in 2021. Political analyst Daniel Silke called the ANC result its worst in history and said it could weaken the party nationally before the 2029 election.

Local government is the level of government closest to residents. It manages a defined municipality, such as a city, town, or district, instead of governing the entire country. This matters because municipal decisions affect everyday needs and the condition of local communities.

Municipalities commonly provide or oversee water delivery, sanitation, waste collection, local roads, electricity distribution, housing administration, and planning. They may also maintain public facilities and collect some local revenue. The exact division of responsibilities differs by country, but the basic purpose is local service delivery.

In this election, those services were central political issues. The article links the ANC’s decline to failing water supplies, persistent power cuts, municipal mismanagement, and crumbling public services. Voters therefore judged local government through visible results in their communities. The election could change which parties administer municipalities and whether they must cooperate in governing coalitions.

The ANC’s support had fallen to 31.8 percent after 80 percent of local-election votes were counted. Projections from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research placed it at nearly 32 percent. This was the party’s lowest score yet in the elections described, even though it remained the largest party.

The decline is clear across time. The ANC received just over 40 percent in the 2024 national polls, compared with 46 percent in the 2021 municipal elections. In 2004, it won nearly 70 percent of the national vote. The comparison shows a long, steep drop from dominant national support to roughly one-third.

The numbers matter because they signal weaker political authority. The ANC was central to South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle and took power in 1994. Now, its weaker local result gives opposition parties more leverage. Daniel Silke said the outcome could undermine ANC authority locally and nationally ahead of the 2029 election.

The ANC lost support because many voters associated it with poor municipal performance. The party has governed South Africa since democracy began in 1994, so it carries responsibility for the condition of public services. Its historic role in the anti-apartheid struggle remains important, but voters also judge whether government works today.

The article identifies failing water supplies, persistent power cuts, and crumbling public services as major concerns. It says the ANC has borne the brunt of criticism for years of municipal mismanagement. These problems create a direct link between government decisions and daily hardship. When basic services fail, voters can use elections to express dissatisfaction.

The result suggests that historical loyalty is weakening. The ANC fell from nearly 70 percent nationally in 2004 to just over 40 percent in 2024, then to about 32 percent in this local count. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, gained an opening. Daniel Silke said the result could damage ANC authority before 2029.

Water, electricity, and public services are not abstract political issues. They affect households, businesses, and communities every day. In this election, concerns over failing supplies and declining services dominated the campaign. Voters could connect their daily experiences with the performance of the parties running municipalities.

The ANC was especially exposed because it has governed since 1994 and faced criticism for years of municipal mismanagement. Persistent power cuts and unreliable water supplies made the party accountable for problems residents could see and feel. The mechanism was simple: poor service delivery weakened trust, while opposition parties gained a chance to present themselves as alternatives.

The count showed the political effect. The ANC stood at 31.8 percent after 80 percent of votes were counted, while the Democratic Alliance had 24.2 percent. The ANC remained first, but its margin and overall support were much weaker than before. The result may therefore reshape local administrations and influence national campaigning before 2029.

Municipal control depends on more than finishing first. A party normally needs enough seats or support to govern effectively. If no party has a clear majority, parties may negotiate coalitions, sharing executive authority or agreeing on budgets and policies. A poor ANC result therefore creates room for rivals to challenge its control.

The article shows the ANC at 31.8 percent and the Democratic Alliance at 24.2 percent after 80 percent of votes were counted. It does not list final municipal seat totals or specific coalition agreements. Still, the narrower gap and weaker ANC support can make opposition parties more important in councils. Smaller parties may also become decisive coalition partners where results are closely divided.

Final results were expected by Sunday. Whatever the final arrangements, the ANC may have less authority in municipalities than before. Daniel Silke said the result would undermine its ability to exert authority across South Africa. The immediate consequence could be more bargaining and less automatic ANC control of local government.

Local elections can influence national politics because they provide a broad test of public confidence. Voters judge parties through nearby institutions and visible services, while parties use the results to measure support, identify weaknesses, and build momentum. A major loss can also weaken a governing party’s authority and strengthen its opponents.

Here, the ANC’s local support fell to about 32 percent, after it won just over 40 percent in the 2024 national polls. The result was tied to municipal problems, including failing water, power cuts, and crumbling services. That makes the election more than a local contest. It tests whether voters blame the ANC for conditions associated with government more broadly.

Political analyst Daniel Silke said opposition parties would be “smelling blood” before the next election in 2029. He also said the result could undermine ANC authority nationally, not just locally. The local outcome may therefore shape opposition strategy, coalition experience, and voters’ expectations ahead of the national poll.