South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) is narrowly ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in preliminary municipal election results, with the two parties separated by a small margin as vote counting continues.
South Africa’s African National Congress has taken an early lead in the country’s municipal elections, securing approximately 32% of the vote against the Democratic Alliance’s 31%, according to preliminary results released on Thursday, November 5.
The figures, reported by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, reflect approximately 12% of votes counted by 04:24 GMT. However, the early results remain provisional and are not yet representative of the full national picture, particularly as several voting districts in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are still being processed.
Projections from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research suggest that the ANC could finish with approximately 32% of the national vote, while the DA could secure around 26%. These projections are also subject to change as more results are finalised.
The election represents another important test for the ANC, whose support has declined considerably over the past decade. The party received approximately 62% of the vote in the 2011 municipal elections, falling to 46% in 2021. It also lost its national parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election, leading to the formation of a Government of National Unity that includes the DA and several other parties.
This time, voters have been weighing issues including crime, corruption, unemployment and the delivery of essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation. These concerns have featured prominently in campaigns across the country, particularly in major urban centres.
The results in metropolitan municipalities, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, eThekwini and Ekurhuleni, are expected to be particularly significant. With several parties competing for support, coalition negotiations could play a major role in determining who governs some of the country’s largest cities.
Although the ANC and DA are partners in the national Government of National Unity, they remain political rivals in local government contests, each seeking stronger representation in municipal councils.
The Electoral Commission is continuing to process results, with the final outcome expected to provide a clearer picture of the balance of power across South Africa’s municipalities.
