Johannesburg:The African National Congress (ANC) is experiencing a significant decline in support following the South African municipal elections held on November 4. With 67.5% of the votes counted, the ANC garnered 31.7% of the national vote, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) secured 25.1%, according to provisional results released on Friday.
According to Agencia de Noticias da Guine, despite maintaining a leading position nationally, the ANC's performance has significantly decreased compared to the 2021 elections where it received 45.6% of the votes. In contrast, the DA has improved from its previous 21.7%. The ANC also struggles in major metropolitan areas, with the DA leading in six of the eight major municipalities.
In Johannesburg, with 45% of the votes accounted for, the DA leads with 40.94%, followed by the ANC at 17.04%, and ActionSA at 15.59%. In Tshwane, the DA has 32.95%, ahead of ActionSA's 22.62% and the ANC's 21.59%. In Ekurhuleni, the DA achieved 29.62%, compared to the ANC's 22.26%.
The DA also leads in Cape Town with 61%, Nelson Mandela Bay with 44.4%, and Mangaung with 36.94%. Conversely, the party MK, associated with former President Jacob Zuma, triumphed in eThekwini with 44.1%, while Buffalo City remains an ANC stronghold with 42%.
Nationally, the MK party obtained 8.5%, followed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 6.1% and ActionSA with 4.7%. The ANC leads in 62 municipal councils, controlling 21, while the DA administers 19 councils, including six under its control.
Except for Cape Town, where the DA may achieve an absolute majority, other major cities are expected to be governed through coalitions, paving the way for political negotiations. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is set to publish the final results and seat distribution in the 257 municipal councils over the weekend.