# ANC under pressure to reverse South Africa decline

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/anc-under-pressure-to-reverse-south-africa-decline/
- Published: 2026-11-04T00:03:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T00:41:12+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4g1x6l77xyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Africa, Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- Local elections could deepen the ANC’s decline.
- Its national vote share fell from 70% to 40%.
- Poor services are fuelling voter apathy in townships.

## Summary

South Africans are voting in local elections that could further weaken the African National Congress (ANC), which governed with a parliamentary majority from the end of apartheid in 1994 until its defeat in the last national election. The party is under pressure to show it can still govern as voters voice anger over corruption, unemployment, crime and failing basic services.

More than 500 parties are contesting elections to lead nearly 300 municipalities, which provide services such as water, electricity and refuse collection. The ANC’s share of the national vote fell from 70% in 2004 to 40% two decades later. In Alexandra and Soweto, residents described rubbish, potholes and unreliable water and electricity; some said they would not vote because they saw little prospect of change, while first-time voter Sanele Ntombela hoped voting could make a difference.

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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.