South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) has suffered another major electoral setback after recording its weakest performance in the country’s local government elections, signalling a continued decline in public support for the party that has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The election results represent another significant challenge for President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC leadership, following the party’s loss of its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections.
The ANC secured approximately 31 per cent of the national vote, a considerable decline from the 45.59 per cent it obtained in the 2021 municipal elections. The outcome reflects growing dissatisfaction among voters and increasing competition from opposition parties seeking to challenge the governing party’s dominance.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) emerged as the second-largest political force, securing approximately 24.6 per cent of the vote, while former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party received about 9.6 per cent.
One of the most significant developments was the ANC’s failure to secure an outright majority in any of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities. The outcome means the party will have to negotiate with other political organisations to participate in governing several major urban centres.
The results have also increased the influence of smaller political parties, whose support could determine which organisations form municipal administrations through coalition agreements.
Johannesburg emerged as one of the major battlegrounds in the elections, with the DA taking the lead in the preliminary results. The party reportedly secured approximately 35 per cent of the vote, compared with around 20 per cent for the ANC.
The outcome has strengthened the position of DA veteran Helen Zille, who could become Johannesburg’s mayor depending on the outcome of coalition negotiations.
However, securing the largest share of votes does not automatically guarantee control of the municipality, making negotiations with other parties essential in determining the city’s next administration.
The ANC’s poor performance has prompted concerns within the party, with senior officials acknowledging that the results reflect serious public dissatisfaction.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the party’s performance as “catastrophic”, recognising the scale of the electoral setback and the need for the organisation to address the concerns raised by voters.
President Ramaphosa has also urged the party to take the outcome seriously and focus on rebuilding public confidence.
The governing party’s declining popularity has been linked to several challenges affecting communities across the country, particularly unemployment, corruption and poor municipal service delivery.
Residents in various municipalities have repeatedly complained about water shortages, unreliable electricity supply, deteriorating roads, poor street lighting and inadequate waste management.
Unemployment, which remains above 30 per cent, has also contributed to public frustration, particularly among young South Africans who continue to face difficulties finding sustainable employment.
The ANC has faced criticism over its handling of these challenges, with opposition parties using concerns about governance and service delivery to attract voters seeking political alternatives.
The latest results follow the party’s historic loss of its parliamentary majority in 2024, when it was forced to enter a Government of National Unity with several other political organisations.
The local government elections have further demonstrated that South Africa’s political landscape is changing, with no single party enjoying the level of dominance previously associated with the ANC.
Coalition negotiations are now expected to play a decisive role in determining the leadership of several municipalities. The discussions could involve complicated arrangements among parties with different political positions and priorities.
For the ANC, the challenge extends beyond forming municipal administrations. The party must also convince voters that it can address longstanding governance problems and improve living conditions in communities.
The results represent a warning to the governing party ahead of future electoral contests, as opposition parties continue to strengthen their positions and voters increasingly demand accountability, effective leadership and improved public services.
Source: Thepressradio.com
