MIDRAND, Gauteng — As the 2026 Local Government Elections results continue to unfold across South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) has emerged as the leading party nationally, securing 31.86% of the vote. The Democratic Alliance (DA) follows in second place, with the third-placed party trailing behind, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA have also posted highly competitive results.
However, the most compelling narrative of the 2026 Local Government Elections lies in the country’s major metropolitan areas. According to political analyst Professor Hlengiwe Ndlovu from the Wits Business School, no single party has secured an outright majority in any major metro. Instead, the electoral map is “multi-colored,” confirming that coalition governance is now the permanent reality of South African politics—a trend that began at the local municipal level long before the formation of the national Government of National Unity (GNU).
Johannesburg’s Political Shift and Generational Change
The shifting political identity of voters is most evident in the City of Johannesburg, a traditional ANC stronghold that has seen a dramatic realignment. Current tallies show the DA leading with over 439,000 votes, followed by the ANC at roughly 189,000, and ActionSA close behind with over 170,000 votes.
Professor Ndlovu notes that the ANC’s explicit decline in the city over the past 15 years is undeniable. Since 2021, Johannesburg has seen six different mayors come and go, yet service delivery has continued to deteriorate. The analyst highlighted that when municipalities fail to provide basic services, the burden falls directly on citizens, with women disproportionately bearing the brunt of crises like severe water cuts.
This dissatisfaction is heavily driven by a generational shift. Ndlovu points out that Johannesburg’s fairly young population, particularly those born after 1994, feels no allegiance to traditional liberation parties. Facing high unemployment and a lack of tangible structural change regarding land, poverty, and inequality, this demographic is actively rejecting outdated political ideologies in favor of new leadership.
Tshwane and Ekurhuleni: Reclaiming Lost Ground
In the City of Tshwane, which the ANC lost to a DA-led coalition in 2016, the current results show the DA leading at 34.4%, ActionSA in a strong second at 22.3%, and the ANC trailing at 20.6%. Ndlovu questions on what basis the ANC could hope to reclaim the city, emphasizing that the party must first engage in deep introspection regarding its past failures in the metro.
Similarly, in the City of Ekurhuleni—a municipality where the ANC once commanded over 60% of the vote—the political dynamics have transformed dramatically. The DA currently leads with 30.5% and seven wards, the ANC sits at 21.8% with five wards, and ActionSA has captured 18.4% and two wards. Ndlovu stresses that these numbers reflect a broader crisis across the metros, where changing the political face of a municipality must now translate into tangible, structural outcomes for residents.
ActionSA’s Kingmaker Role and Coalition Dynamics
With no outright majorities, coalition negotiations will dictate the governance of South Africa’s economic hubs. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, who recently addressed the media regarding the party’s strong showing, finds his party in a pivotal “fixer” or kingmaker position, particularly in metros like Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
However, Ndlovu warns that parties must carefully manage their public posturing. She draws parallels to the 2024 general elections, where rigid pre-election statements nearly derailed governance despite clear electoral mandates. She also noted the stance of the Build One South Africa (BOSA) party, whose leader recently stated they are unwilling to coalition with individuals under whose leadership municipalities previously collapsed.
The Road to 2029 and Democratic Accountability
As coalition talks commence, a critical question remains: will these agreements include enforceable performance targets and clear dispute-resolution mechanisms? Ndlovu observes that past coalitions have often devolved into struggles for political domination rather than focusing on citizen service delivery.
With the 2029 general elections just a year and a half away, the stakes for the newly formed municipal councils are incredibly high. Local governments are tasked with massive responsibilities despite operating with constrained budgets. Ultimately, Ndlovu concludes, the true test of South Africa’s democracy will not be found in the shifting percentages of the 2026 Local Government Elections, but in whether these new political configurations can deliver tangible, improved living standards to the communities that voted for change.
