South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) is facing another major political challenge after early municipal election results showed a sharp decline in its share of votes, potentially weakening its control over important urban centres.
The preliminary results, reported on November 5, 2026, indicated that the governing party was struggling to maintain the level of support it enjoyed in previous elections.
According to Reuters, approximately 36 per cent of votes had been counted by midday on Thursday, with the ANC securing about 32 per cent of the vote.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) was closely behind with approximately 27 per cent.
Although the results were still preliminary and could change as more votes were counted, the figures suggested a difficult election for the ANC.
If the early figures were to hold, the party’s support would be approximately 14 percentage points lower than its performance in the 2021 municipal elections.
The development is particularly significant because the ANC has governed South Africa since leading the country out of apartheid in 1994.
For decades, the party maintained a dominant position in national politics and enjoyed considerable support across different communities.
However, its influence has gradually weakened as voters increasingly express dissatisfaction with governance, unemployment, service delivery and the country’s economic challenges.
A changing political environment
The ANC’s declining electoral performance reflects broader changes in South Africa’s political environment.
The party has faced increasing pressure from opposition groups seeking to attract voters who are dissatisfied with the pace of economic development and public-service delivery.
The Democratic Alliance has continued to position itself as an alternative political force, particularly among voters concerned about municipal administration and government accountability.
Other political organisations have also attempted to expand their influence by presenting different approaches to unemployment, economic reform and public infrastructure.
The changing political environment means that the ANC can no longer depend on the level of electoral dominance it enjoyed in previous decades.
Municipal elections are particularly important because they provide voters with an opportunity to assess the performance of political parties in managing their immediate communities.
Issues such as water supply, electricity, sanitation, refuse collection, roads and housing frequently influence voting decisions.
For many South Africans, the performance of local government has a direct impact on everyday life.
Pressure over service delivery
One of the major challenges facing the ANC has been growing public frustration over service delivery.
Several municipalities have struggled with financial management, infrastructure maintenance and the consistent provision of basic services.
These challenges have contributed to criticism of local administrations and increased pressure on political leaders to demonstrate measurable improvements.
Unemployment and the rising cost of living have also remained important concerns for households.
South Africa has one of the most developed financial markets on the continent, but economic opportunities remain unevenly distributed.
Many communities continue to face high levels of poverty and limited access to employment.
The ANC has repeatedly faced criticism over its ability to address these problems despite having governed the country for more than three decades.
The early election results suggest that some voters may be increasingly willing to support opposition parties.
Implications for Johannesburg and other cities
The preliminary figures could have important consequences for major metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg.
Control of major cities provides political parties with influence over local budgets, infrastructure investment and municipal policy.
If the ANC loses support in key urban centres, it may become more difficult for the party to maintain its previous level of control over local government.
A fragmented electoral outcome could also increase the likelihood of coalition arrangements.
Coalition governments can create opportunities for broader political representation, but they may also face difficulties when participating parties disagree over policy priorities or leadership positions.
The final outcome will therefore be important in determining how municipalities are governed after the elections.
What the results mean for the ANC
The early results provide another warning for the ANC as it attempts to rebuild public confidence.
The party will need to address concerns surrounding service delivery, unemployment, corruption allegations and economic management.
It will also need to convince voters that it can deliver practical improvements rather than relying on its historical political influence.
For opposition parties, the results represent an opportunity to strengthen their positions and demonstrate that they can offer effective alternatives.
However, the final election outcome remains subject to the completion of vote counting and official verification by electoral authorities.
The coming days will determine whether the early figures develop into a broader political setback for the ANC.
