ANC barely hangs on as DA and ActionSA make gains in final IEC results

Being the largest party means the ANC received more votes nationally than any other party and won the most council seats. But its 30.76% share was far short of a majority. Dominance means controlling councils sufficiently to govern without depending on rivals.

The results show the difference clearly. The ANC won 3 246 seats, yet secured outright control in only 53 municipalities and led in 128. Of 213 municipalities, just 74 councils had any party with an outright majority.

The ANC therefore remains the biggest force, but its control is reduced. The DA, MKP, EFF and ActionSA all gained meaningful support, while independents won 22.9% collectively. Many councils will require negotiations and coalitions, changing how local decisions are made over the next five years.

The five largest parties together represented most of the named party vote, but no party came close to a national majority. The ANC received 30.76% and won 3 246 council seats. The DA received 24.64% and won 1 695 seats.

MKP took 9.76% and 785 seats. The EFF received 6.22% and won 588 seats. ActionSA secured 5.67% and 313 seats. Independent candidates were not one party, but collectively received 22.9% and gained council representation.

These figures show why municipal politics became fragmented. The ANC had the most seats, but rivals held substantial blocks of representation. The spread of votes and seats makes outright control difficult and gives smaller parties and independents potential influence during council negotiations.

An outright majority requires one party to hold enough council seats to govern without support from other groups. These results distributed votes among the ANC, DA, MKP, EFF, ActionSA, other parties and independents. That made single-party control unusual.

The ANC had 30.76%, the DA 24.64%, and independent candidates collectively 22.9%. Even the largest party secured outright control in only 53 municipalities. The DA controlled 12, while MKP controlled three and the IFP controlled five.

Across the country, only 74 of 213 councils had an outright majority. The remaining councils are likely to need coalitions or other agreements. This fragmentation means governing parties must negotiate support, share power or reach issue-by-issue arrangements to pass decisions and run municipalities.

A coalition forms when no party has enough council seats to govern alone. Parties must agree on who leads the municipality, how responsibilities are shared and which plans receive support. Decisions that might otherwise follow one party’s programme require cooperation.

For example, the ANC could remain the largest party in a council but need backing from another party or independent councillors to secure a working majority. The DA, MKP, IFP and other groups may also negotiate, depending on each council’s numbers. The exact arrangement can differ from municipality to municipality.

The article reports that 139 of the 213 councils did not have an outright majority. Coalition governments and negotiations are therefore likely to shape local governance over the next five years. Their stability will affect whether councils can make decisions consistently.

The result marks a shift from one-party dominance toward a more competitive and fragmented municipal landscape. The ANC still won more votes and seats than every rival, but its national share was only 30.76%. It therefore remained first without commanding most councils.

The clearest evidence is local control. The ANC secured outright control in 53 municipalities and led in 128, while the DA, MKP and IFP also controlled or led municipalities. Independent candidates collectively received 22.9%, adding another significant source of representation.

The article does not provide a detailed historical vote series, so it does not quantify the ANC’s earlier results. It does establish that the party has lost its dominance in municipal councils. The practical consequence is a stronger role for opposition parties, independents and coalition bargaining.

Winning fewer seats does not remove a smaller party or independent councillor from council politics. If no group has a majority, their seats can help another party reach the support needed to govern. This gives them bargaining power even when they are not the largest group.

For instance, an ANC-led council might need support from a smaller party or independents, while a DA-led council could face the same need. Parties may negotiate a coalition, agree on leadership and responsibilities, or support specific decisions. The article confirms that negotiations will be important because most councils lack outright majorities.

The available choices depend on each council’s seat numbers and political agreements. Smaller groups may join a governing coalition, remain outside it while supporting selected measures, or form an alternative coalition with other parties. The article does not specify individual coalition agreements yet.

Local elections choose representatives for municipal councils, the bodies that govern municipalities. Proportional representation allocates seats broadly according to parties’ vote shares, so a party can win the most seats without winning a majority. That is why several parties may share decision-making power.

The 2026 results illustrate the mechanism. The ANC won 3 246 seats and the DA 1 695, but only 74 of 213 councils had an outright majority. Councillors from parties such as MKP, EFF and ActionSA, together with independents, can therefore affect which bloc governs and which proposals pass.

Municipal councils make local governing decisions, including services such as water, roads and waste collection. The article does not detail the service-delivery process, but it shows that fragmented councils will need coalitions and negotiations. Stable agreements will be important for consistent local governance over five years.