South Africans vote in local elections amid growing dissatisfaction with failing services and infrastructure

Updated 2026-11-06 · told from many outlets at once

The African National Congress is facing a significant electoral decline in South Africa's local government elections. As of Friday, partial results show the party has received approximately 32 percent of the vote. This performance follows a period of voter disaffection driven by corruption, crime, and failing public services.

• The African National Congress fell below 50 percent of the vote in the 2021 municipal elections.
• The African National Congress had about 32 percent of the vote with around 12 percent of votes counted.
• The Democratic Alliance received 24.22 percent of the votes at this stage.
• The ANC received 70 percent of the vote in the general election in 2004.
• Johannesburg has seen seven mayors since 2021.
• The ANC obtained 31.78 percent of the votes counted by the electoral commission.
• Water shortages and unreliable electricity supplies anger voters.
• The electoral commission stated that about 15.9 million of 29.2 million registered voters cast ballots.
• The Democratic Alliance is heavily favored to keep control of Cape Town.
• More than 500 political parties contested the elections.
• The ANC lost its 30-year parliamentary majority in national elections in 2024.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa said municipal failures have contributed to declining public trust.
• Anger over corruption, crime, and failing public services threatens the African National Congress.
• Around 30 million people have registered to cast their votes across South Africa's nine provinces.
• Helen Zille, DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, cast her vote at Emmarentia Primary School.
• The elections will decide who leads eight main cities and 44 district municipalities.
• The African National Congress attracted more than 50 percent of the vote in 2016.
• The November 4 elections are a new test for the African National Congress.

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