ANC REMAINS SOUTH AFRICA’S BIGGEST POLITICAL PARTY WITH 30.95% OF THE VOTE AS 2026 ELECTION RESULTS REACH 98% COMPLETION, BUT 122 OF THE COUNTRY’S 213 MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ARE HUNG — SETTING THE STAGE FOR MAJOR COALITION NEGOTIATIONS!
South Africa’s 2026 local government election results are revealing a complicated political picture, with the ANC maintaining its position as the country’s largest party while the DA remains in second place.
According to the IEC results shown in the latest update, with 98% of the results completed, the ANC has secured 30.95% of the vote, followed by the DA at 24.55%.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is in third position with 9.62%, while the EFF has 6.26%. ActionSA has recorded 5.60%, followed by the IFP at 4.73%.
Other parties include the SACP with 2.39%, the Patriotic Alliance with 1.95% and the Freedom Front Plus with 3.02%.
PARTY SUPPORT IN THE LATEST IEC SNAPSHOT:
* ANC: 30.95%
* DA: 24.55%
* MK Party: 9.62%
* EFF: 6.26%
* ActionSA: 5.60%
* IFP: 4.73%
* VF Plus: 3.02%
* SACP: 2.39%
* Patriotic Alliance: 1.95%
THE COALITION BATTLE: 122 HUNG MUNICIPALITIES
One of the biggest developments is the number of municipalities without an outright majority.
Out of 213 councils:
* 122 are hung councils.
* 68 are controlled.
* 23 are not yet calculated.
* Zero are recorded as drawn.
The ANC is leading in 115 councils and controlling 48, while the DA is leading in 27 and controlling 11.
The MK Party is leading in 18 councils and controlling three. The IFP is also leading in 18 and controlling five.
These figures show that winning the largest share of the national vote does not automatically translate into controlling the majority of municipalities.
With 122 hung councils, negotiations between political parties could determine who governs many communities across South Africa.
The coming coalition discussions will test relationships between parties that have spent years campaigning against one another.
Do you think the ANC will manage to retain control through coalition agreements, or could the DA and other opposition parties gain more municipal power through negotiations
