JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's ruling African National Congress secured 31.8 percent of the vote in local elections, marking a significant loss of support for the party that has governed nationally since apartheid ended in 1994.
With more than 80 percent of ballots counted, the ANC's result represents a nearly 14 percentage point decline from the 2021 local elections. Voters cited high unemployment, crime, corruption allegations and failures in local service delivery as reasons for shifting support.
The ANC is projected to lose its position as the largest party in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa's two most populous provinces. Coalition negotiations have begun, though their outcome remains uncertain.
The centre-right Democratic Alliance secured 24.1 percent of the national vote. The uMkhonto weSizwe party, led by former ANC president Jacob Zuma, received 9.3 percent.
Zuma, 84, founded MK in 2023 and continues to deny numerous corruption allegations. The party advocates Zulu nationalism combined with pledges for land and wealth redistribution from white citizens to Black citizens. It is expected to become the largest party in KwaZulu-Natal.
Voter turnout rose to 54.5 percent of registered voters, up from 46 percent in the previous local elections five years ago.
In Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city and commercial hub, governance has deteriorated sharply. The municipality has cycled through 10 mayors in a decade during unstable coalition governments. Residents face regular water and power cuts, uncollected rubbish and deteriorating roads. The city has acknowledged an infrastructure spending backlog of 220 billion rand, equivalent to £9.9 billion.
With just over half the votes counted in Johannesburg, the DA leads with 40 percent. The ANC, which currently heads the city's coalition, stands at 17.5 percent. ActionSA, a rightwing party led by Herman Mashaba, holds 15.5 percent.
The DA campaigned aggressively under Helen Zille, a 75-year-old former Cape Town mayor. Mashaba has said publicly he will not work with Zille, calling her "racist." Zille has denied the accusation.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, a respected think tank, projects the DA will ultimately finish with 34 percent in Johannesburg, the ANC with 20 percent, and ActionSA with 16.8 percent.
Many ANC strongholds in township areas have not yet reported complete results. Across Gauteng province, coalitions in the three city municipalities are frequently negotiated collectively. The Democratic Alliance currently leads in all three.
