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Vol. 3 · No. 312 Every side. Side by side. Sunday, November 8, 2026
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South Africa ANC near 31% in local vote as coalition talks begin

With 99 percent of ballots counted, Al Jazeera put the ANC at 31 percent nationally, ahead of the DA at 25 percent, with no outright majorities in the eight major metros.

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

Wire reporting: (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)

With 99 percent of votes counted on Sunday, South Africa's African National Congress had about 31 percent nationally in last week's municipal elections, according to Al Jazeera, compared with about 25 percent for the Democratic Alliance and about 10 percent for former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe party1.

That is a drop of roughly 14 percentage points from the ANC's 2021 local-election share1. IOL, at 97 percent counted, said the ANC still led nationally and in 115 councils, with outright control of 48, while the DA led 27 councils and MK and the Inkatha Freedom Party each led 1815.

The Independent Electoral Commission said about 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters took part, an estimated 54.5 percent turnout, up from about 46 percent in 20214,5,15. Voting was on Nov. 4, with final results expected Sunday evening1,4.

The ANC did not win an outright majority in any of the eight major metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg and Pretoria1. In Johannesburg, Al Jazeera said the DA led with about 35 percent to the ANC's 20 percent1. Parties have 14 days to form city councils1.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula called the result "catastrophic" and said the party would not beg for posts in coalition talks1. The DA said it would talk with parties committed to accountable government, anti-corruption measures, service delivery, the rule of law and non-racialism1. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the party had already reached out to others to assemble governments that can fix towns and cities5.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said his party won 6.26 percent, down from 10.31 percent in 20212. "There is no DA that stole votes. Our people voted for DA," Malema said, arguing the ANC's 2024 national unity government with the DA had made that choice easier2,3.

Earlier counts at 80 percent had the ANC near 32 percent, its lowest share in a national-scale contest since 1994, Africanews and France 24 reported5,10. Unemployment above 34 percent, failing water and electricity and corruption complaints were cited as reasons voters shifted1,4,10. Coalition outcomes in Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini remained unsettled1,10.

Sources

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

Read the original at Al Jazeera ↗

How it’s being reported

12 sources

First reported by ABC NewsABC News

Al JazeeraDaily MaverickIOLAfricanewsThe Rio Times

Where they agree

  • ANC remains largest party but well below 2021 local and 2024 national shares
  • DA second, MK third in national vote
  • Turnout about 54.5 percent of registered voters
  • Hung councils in several metros and a 14-day coalition window

Where they differ

Whether DA gains came at the EFF's expense

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.

Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

South Africa's ANC on track for new lows in local polls

Turnout, 2024 GNU context and CSIR metro projections.

Earlier Al Jazeera count with more than 60% in: ANC about 32%, DA 25%, MK 8.5%.

Leaves out Sunday's 99% update.

Turnout, 2024 GNU context and CSIR metro projections.

What it reports

  • Turnout about 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered, 54.5%.
  • ANC fell below 50% in 2021 locals (46%) and to just over 40% in 2024 nationals.

Leaves out Sunday's 99% update.

Read the original at Al Jazeera Read the full article at Al Jazeera

Same copy also at: Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera

Daily MaverickDaily Maverick

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

EFF's national drop and Malema's explanation for DA gains.

31% in 2021 and blamed the ANC-DA national unity deal, not vote theft by the DA. — Daily Maverick

Malema said EFF support fell to 6.26% from 10.31% in 2021 and blamed the ANC-DA national unity deal, not vote theft by the DA.

Leaves out The 99% national tally for ANC and DA.

EFF's national drop and Malema's explanation for DA gains.

What it reports

  • EFF 1.8 million votes (6.26%) vs 2.4 million (10.31%) in 2021.
  • Malema said voters chose the DA after the ANC governed with it.
  • EFF said it won 37 wards, up from 19 in 2021.

Leaves out The 99% national tally for ANC and DA.

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

Malema blames ANC-DA GNU for DA’s gains in 2026 local elections

Malema's Midrand remarks on coalitions and Helen Zille.

IOL reports Malema arguing the 2024 GNU made the DA more acceptable to voters.

Leaves out IEC turnout figures.

Malema's Midrand remarks on coalitions and Helen Zille.

What it reports

  • Malema rejected claims the DA stole EFF votes.
  • He warned the EFF might sit out talks rather than accept ANC terms.

Leaves out IEC turnout figures.

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%

Historical comparison and analyst comments on 2029.

Africanews, at 80% counted, had the ANC near 32% and called it the party's worst result yet.

Leaves out Sunday 99% figures.

Historical comparison and analyst comments on 2029.

What it reports

  • DA just over 24% at 80% counted, up from nearly 22% in 2021.
  • MK just over 9%, leading in eThekwini on that count.

Leaves out Sunday 99% figures.

Read the original at Africanews Read the full article at Africanews

Same copy also at: Africanews · Africanews