# ANC faces bruising defeat in South African local elections with 80% of ballots counted

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/anc-faces-bruising-defeat-in-south-african-local-elections-with-80-of-ballots-counted/
- Published: 2026-11-06T12:48:37+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T13:04:12+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/06/anc-faces-defeat-south-african-local-elections
- Topics: Africa, Elections, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- The ANC fell to 31.8% with more than 80% of votes counted.
- The result is nearly 14 percentage points below its 2021 share.
- Coalition negotiations will determine control of key cities.

## Summary

With more than 80% of ballots counted, the African National Congress (ANC) was on course for a sharp defeat in South Africa’s local elections, receiving less than a third of the national vote. The result would deepen the decline of the party that has governed since apartheid ended in 1994, amid voter concerns about unemployment, crime, corruption and poor local services.

The ANC had 31.8%, almost 14 percentage points below its 2021 result; the Democratic Alliance had 24.1% and the uMkhonto weSizwe party 9.3%. Turnout was estimated at 54.5%, up from 46% five years earlier. The ANC was projected to lose its lead in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, while coalition talks were expected to shape control of major cities; final results were due on Sunday.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.