The African National Congress sits at 31.8% nationally with over 80% of ballots tallied, marking a steep decline from its 2021 municipal performance. The Democratic Alliance holds second place at 24.1% and leads in all three Gauteng city municipalities, while the MK party surges in KwaZulu-Natal. Higher citizen participation helped drive these shifts, with voter turnout rising to an estimated 54.5% compared to 46% five years ago.
Key points
The governing party is set to lose its status as the largest political organization in bo…: The governing party is set to lose its status as the largest political organization in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Newly elected councillors will have a two-week window following seat distribution to elec…: Newly elected councillors will have a two-week window following seat distribution to elect mayors and establish administrations.
The Democratic Alliance is expected to keep its outright majority in Cape Town while othe…: The Democratic Alliance is expected to keep its outright majority in Cape Town while other major metros face coalition talks.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The African National Congress is on course to suffer a bruising defeat in South Africa’s local elections, with the once dominant party of Nelson Mandela falling to under a third of the vote nationally with more than 80% of ballots counted.
Wednesday’s fragmented vote marks another stage in the decline of the ANC, which has led national governments since the end of white minority apartheid rule in 1994. High unemployment, crime, corruption and poor local service delivery have all contributed to voters turning away from the party.
The former liberation movement is projected to lose its status as the biggest party in the two most populous provinces, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as parties began coalition negotiations behind closed doors. The final results are expected to be announced on Sunday.
The ANC was on 31.8% of the vote nationally, almost 14 percentage points below its 2021 local election result. The centre-right, white-led Democratic Alliance (DA) had 24.1% of the vote, while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party of the former ANC president Jacob Zuma was on 9.3%.
Minsters in Cardiff are withdrawing support from the long-running African environmental partnership as fiscal constraints force tighter domestic spending limits ahead of the upcoming draft budget. The funding withdrawal follows a decade of financial backing that delivered millions of planted trees alongside Indigenous groups in eastern Africa. The move has ignited fierce debate in the Senedd over the balance between domestic services and international climate responsibilities.
Heavy clashes in southwestern Yemen left dozens of opposing fighters killed or wounded as pro-government troops advanced across strategic terrain. Securing these territorial pockets strengthens the state's footprint near key trade channels that support international energy supplies. The push challenges ongoing rebel influence across the country's highly contested administrative divisions.
Seeking to preserve his political standing from abroad, the Brazilian politician made his first major public appearance since leaving his home country. Facing imminent legal threats once his parliamentary immunity ends early next year, he is using American conservative platforms to contest his recent election defeat. However, his self-imposed exile complicates his ability to lead the domestic opposition against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.