In brief
The Electoral Commission released provisional results for South Africa's municipal elections, showing the ANC with about 32% of counted votes versus 25% for the DA, leading in six of nine provinces. The DA topped major metros, while the MK Party won KwaZulu‑Natal. Coalition talks will decide city leadership, signaling shifting political dynamics ahead of the 2029 national election.
In Johannesburg, Sunday night’s provisional vote count showed the ruling ANC still ahead of the opposition DA in most of South Africa. By 11:59 p.m. local time, about two‑thirds of valid votes had been tallied, giving the ANC roughly 32 percent and the DA 25 percent.
The ANC leads in six of nine provinces—North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Free State—while the DA takes lead in Gauteng and Western Cape. In the province of KwaZulu‑Natal, former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party is topping the poll.
Urban markets show a different picture. Out of eight metropolitan councils, the DA is ahead in six, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay and Mangaung, and is on course to keep Cape Town, where it has about 62 percent of the vote.
The MK Party is winning eThekwini, the city that covers Durban, highlighting the party’s fresh traction in that area.
Because municipal mayors are chosen by council members, not directly by voters, no party with an outright majority will rule alone. Coalition talks will therefore shape the leadership of key cities.
The DA’s strong showing in metros could give it more clout in those negotiations, while the ANC may seek partners among smaller parties to keep its influence.
Similarly, the MK Party’s gains in KwaZulu‑Natal could help it negotiate better deals in local government.
Officials say the Electoral Commission’s final tally will be finished by the weekend, after further verification and auditing of the results.
These early findings point to a tightening competition in South Africa’s local government and a shift in the political landscape as the country heads toward the 2029 national election.
