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Vol. 3 · No. 311 Every side. Side by side. Saturday, November 7, 2026
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Malema says ANC-DA unity deal helped DA in South Africa local vote

EFF leader Julius Malema said Saturday the ANC's 2024 unity government with the Democratic Alliance made it easier for voters to back the DA in municipal elections, as counting neared completion.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. Daily Maverick, The Rio Times and 3 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “South Africa counts votes in municipal elections”
  3. Our desk updated its story
  4. Africanews and IOL are now reporting this
  5. New headline Was: “South Africans vote in local elections that test the ANC”
7 earlier updates
  1. Our desk updated its story
  2. Local 10 and DW are now reporting this
  3. New headline Was: “ANC under pressure to reverse South Africa decline”
  4. Our desk filed its story
  5. Still developing
  6. New headline Was: “South Africans vote in local elections that could continue decline of ANC”
  7. Al Jazeera is now reporting this

Wire reporting: (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer), (Reuters, via France 24)

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said Saturday in Midrand that the African National Congress's 2024 government of national unity with the Democratic Alliance helped make the DA an acceptable choice for some voters in South Africa's municipal elections1,2.

Malema, speaking at the National Results Operations Centre, rejected claims that the DA had taken EFF ballots by force of campaigning, saying voters had chosen the DA after watching the ANC share national Cabinet posts with it1,2.

He said, "There is no DA that stole votes. Our people voted for DA"1.

With about 97 percent of voting districts counted, IOL reported the ANC still first nationally at almost 31 percent, the DA almost 25 percent and uMkhonto weSizwe almost 10 percent4.

Earlier in the count, Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, put the ANC near 32 percent and the DA near 25 percent after more than 60 percent of votes were in, with MK then around 8.5 percent3.

France 24, carrying Reuters, said a result near 32 percent would be well below the ANC's 2021 municipal share and would leave hung councils likely in several large metros11.

IOL said the ANC was leading in 115 councils and had outright control of 48, while the DA led in 27 and controlled 11, with MK and the Inkatha Freedom Party each leading in 18 councils4.

About 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters cast ballots, an estimated 54.5 percent turnout, higher than in 20213,4.

Malema said the EFF received 1.8 million votes, or 6.26 percent nationally, down from 2.4 million votes, or 10.31 percent, in 2021, a drop he put at 612,326 votes and fourth place nationally1.

He said the party had increased wards won from 19 in 2021 to 37, including first ward seats in some metros, and higher support in 48 municipalities1.

He criticized DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille and said the EFF would not be pushed in coalition talks, including a warning that it might stand aside rather than accept terms it rejected1,2.

Parties were expected to meet over the weekend on partners for hung councils, with final results still due as counting and verification continued4,17.

Sources

  1. Daily MaverickLOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Malema blames GNU cooperation for EFF losing support to the DA
  2. IOLMalema blames ANC-DA GNU for DA’s gains in 2026 local elections
  3. Al JazeeraSouth Africa's ANC on track for new lows in local polls
  4. (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)South Africa's once-dominant ANC faces huge decline in voter support, early election results showAlso (AP, via Local 10), (AP, via ABC News), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)
  5. (Reuters, via France 24)South Africa's ANC party on track to face 'nightmare' losses in municipal elections
  1. IOL97% of votes counted as ANC leads nationally in local elections
  2. AfricanewsFirst results show South Africa's ANC headed to all-time election low with 32%
  3. The Rio TimesEurope Intelligence Brief — Friday, November 6, 2026
  4. The Rio TimesUSA & Canada Intelligence Brief — Friday, November 6, 2026
  5. StuffSouth Africa's ruling ANC faces huge decline in voter support, early election results show
  6. The GuardianANC faces bruising defeat in South African local elections with 80% of ballots counted
  7. IOLANC in KZN vows renewal after election setbacks
  8. BBCANC under pressure to reverse South Africa decline
  9. DWSouth Africans vote in local elections in test for ANC
  10. AfricanewsVote counting gets underway in critical South Africa local elections
  11. The Rio TimesAfrica Intelligence Brief — Friday, November 6, 2026
  12. Al JazeeraVote counting underway in critical South Africa elections
  13. IOLSouth Africa heads into vote counting after millions cast their ballot in local government elections
  14. France 24South Africans vote in key municipal elections
  15. AfricanewsSouth Africans vote in local elections with ANC missteps in sharp focus
  16. Al JazeeraSouth Africans vote in local elections seen as test for embattled ANC
  17. IOLThe battle for Emfuleni: ANC's Mako and DA's Chabalala face off in local elections

Read the original at Daily Maverick ↗

How it’s being reported

12 sources

First reported by ABC NewsABC News

Daily MaverickIOLAl JazeeraAfricanewsStuff

Where they agree

  • The ANC remained first nationally on incomplete or near-complete counts but well below past local-election shares
  • The DA was second nationally near 25 percent
  • Turnout was reported around 54.5 percent of 29.2 million registered voters
  • Coalition talks will decide several large municipalities

Where they differ

Whether DA gains came from ANC-DA national cooperation making the DA acceptable

Exact national vote shares as counting advanced

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

Daily MaverickDaily Maverick

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Malema blames GNU cooperation for EFF losing support to the DA

Malema's explanation of EFF losses and ward-level gains

Malema said EFF national support fell while ward wins rose, blaming ANC-DA national cooperation for voters choosing the DA.

Leaves out Latest national council tallies at 97 percent counted

Malema's explanation of EFF losses and ward-level gains

What it reports

  • Malema rejected claims the DA stole EFF votes
  • He said the 2024 GNU made supporting the DA acceptable
  • EFF fell to 6.26 percent nationally from 10.31 percent in 2021
  • Wards won rose from 19 to 37, he said
  • He warned the EFF would take a hard line in coalition talks

Leaves out Latest national council tallies at 97 percent counted

Read the original at Daily Maverick Read the full article at Daily Maverick
IOLIOL

97% of votes counted as ANC leads nationally in local elections

Council leads and turnout

With 97 percent of districts counted, ANC led nationally near 31 percent as parties prepared for coalitions.

Leaves out Malema remarks

Council leads and turnout

What it reports

  • 97 percent of voting districts counted
  • ANC near 31 percent, DA near 25 percent, MK near 10 percent
  • ANC leading 115 councils with outright control of 48
  • Turnout about 54.5 percent of 29.2 million registered voters

Leaves out Malema remarks

Read the original at IOL Read the full article at IOL

Same copy also at: IOL · IOL · IOL · IOL

AfricanewsAfricanews

First results show South Africa's ANC headed to all-time election low with 32%

ANC historic low

Partial Friday results put the ANC near 32 percent, its weakest local-election showing if confirmed.

Leaves out Saturday Malema briefing

ANC historic low

What it reports

  • Early count put ANC near 32 percent
  • Described as heading for a record-low local result

Leaves out Saturday Malema briefing

Read the original at Africanews Read the full article at Africanews

Same copy also at: Africanews · Africanews