In brief
Following a 52% voter turnout, the ANC remains the largest party with 30.76% of the vote and 3,282 council seats, but 138 of 213 municipal councils are hung. President Cyril Ramaphosa called on parties to prioritize service delivery over power disputes in forming municipal governments, citing the Freedom Charter’s principle that governance belongs to the people. Analysts note the challenge for coalition talks, especially in Johannesburg where no single party holds a majority.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged political parties on Sunday to put service delivery and community interests above power struggles as coalition talks begin to form municipal governments in the wake of the 2026 local government elections.
Election Results and Council Landscape
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed that the African National Congress (ANC), led by Ramaphosa, remains the country’s largest party, gaining 30.76% of the national vote and securing 3,282 council seats. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second with 24.64% of the vote and 1,722 seats, followed by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) with 9.77% and 799 seats, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 6.22% and 592 seats, and ActionSA with 5.67% and 320 seats. Other parties and independents collectively captured 22.94% of the vote and a share of municipal seats.
All 213 municipal councils have been finalized and declared, with a total of 10,526 seats contested. The ANC achieved outright majorities in 53 municipalities and emerged as the leading contender in 128, whereas the DA secured 12 outright majorities and led 32 councils. In total, 74 councils were won outright by a single party, leaving 138 councils hung, where no party holds an absolute majority — making coalition negotiations inevitable.
Voter turnout for the local elections reached 52%, up 6.1 percentage points from the 2021 local government elections, with approximately 14.9 million voters casting ballots.
City‑Level Dynamics: Johannesburg as a Microcosm
In Johannesburg’s 270‑seat municipal council, the DA emerged as the largest party with 91 seats, followed by the ANC with 63 and ActionSA with 43. No party reached the 136‑seat threshold required for a majority, meaning the city’s governance will depend on inter‑party cooperation.
Ramaphosa’s Call for Unity and Service Delivery
Speaking at the IEC’s Results Operations Center in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, Ramaphosa stressed that the political conflict and scramble for positions must not undermine municipal stability or delay essential services. “The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any particular party,” the president said, citing the Freedom Charter’s foundational principle that “the people shall govern.”
He urged parties to focus on community interests and to unite in order to ensure continuity of municipal services for citizens. He framed his remarks as an affirmation of South Africa’s democratic institutions and the constitutional principle that all political authority belongs to the people.
Open Questions and Upcoming Negotiations
With 138 hung councils, coalition negotiations are already underway in many municipalities. Analysts point to the ANC’s challenge in building alliances across the political spectrum, including with the MK Party or ActionSA. The DA’s position as a potential kingmaker in several key councils also raises questions about coalition compositions and policy priorities.
In Johannesburg, the DA’s lead will require agreements with smaller parties or independents to gain a governing majority. Stakeholders note that the outcome of these talks will set a precedent for how South Africa balances service delivery with coalition politics in the post‑election era.
The IEC and local parties have announced that negotiations will continue in the coming weeks, and observers will be watching how parties address the immediate need for stable municipal governance while negotiating long‑term policy agreements.
