FREE STATE — Following the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) official announcement of the 2026 Local Government Elections, the Free State has experienced a significant shift in its political landscape. The number of hung municipalities in the province has tripled since 2021, rising from just four to include the highly contested Mangaung Metro municipality, prompting political parties to reassess their strategies and coalition potential.
Speaking on the party’s performance, a spokesperson for the ASD noted that the party retained one of its two previous seats. The spokesperson highlighted a major shift in the Mangaung Metro council’s balance of power. In 2021, the ANC held a majority of 49 seats, reaching over 50 with coalition partners. Following the recent elections, the ANC’s representation has dropped to 35 seats, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) holds 33. The remaining votes are distributed among more than 20 smaller political parties.
The ASD representative emphasized that their single remaining vote retains significant influence. The party, which has historically advocated for service delivery and addressed financial distress in Mangaung, believes this new dynamic offers a better opportunity for positive change. They contrasted this with the ANC’s previous use of its majority alongside coalition partners, asserting that ASD will continue to contribute positively to the interests of the Mangaung residents.
ActionSA has also made notable inroads in the Free State, securing representation in the Mangaung Metro and across the province. Eugene Mmutle, a spokesperson for ActionSA, expressed excitement over the community’s confidence in the party. ActionSA initially contested only seven of the 18 municipalities in the province. However, Eugene Mmutle revealed that the party has since received requests for visibility from 11 additional municipalities, including Harrismith, and has dispatched teams to begin groundwork for the 2029 elections.
In the Mangaung Metro, ActionSA secured three seats. Provincially, the party won a total of nine seats: two in Machave, and one each in Mutaka, Metima, Dab, and STO. While the party did not secure a seat in Mafube, Eugene Mmutle noted that the vote count there was encouraging and is currently under assessment.
Looking ahead, ActionSA outlined its agenda for the Mangaung Metro, focusing on opening the township economy. Eugene Mmutle stated that previous administrations failed to prioritize this sector, leading to the current situation where undocumented foreign nationals occupy a significant portion of the local economy. The party’s primary objective is to address this issue and ensure the economy is accessible to local citizens.
As political parties consolidate their newly acquired seats, the focus now shifts to forming coalition governments in these municipalities. The evolving dynamics in the Free State, particularly within the Mangaung Metro, will be closely monitored as these parties implement their mandates and address the service delivery needs of their communities.
