EASTERN CAPE — The Nelson Mandela Bay election results have revealed a significant political shift in the Eastern Cape, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) increasing its lead over the African National Congress (ANC) by 19 percentage points. Following the capture of all votes in the metro, the DA secured 44.17% of the vote, while the ANC received 25.48%.
Although the DA did not secure an outright majority, it won the vote in the province’s largest metropolitan area. The party’s representation has increased to 53 seats, which includes 25 proportional representation (PR) seats. In contrast, the ANC lost 16 seats, dropping to a total of 32, and notably received zero PR seats in the metro.
The remaining council seats were distributed among several other parties. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secured seven seats, a decrease of one from the previous council. The South African Communist Party (SACP), contesting separately in the metro for the first time, won four seats. This matches the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which doubled its representation from two to four seats. The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) each secured three seats.
Addressing the interim results, Lufefe Mkutu, Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, noted that the figures released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) are not yet officially declared and are still being studied for a concrete analysis.
Despite the overall decline in vote share, Lufefe Mkutu highlighted that the ANC retained most of its historic base and ward seats, particularly within the townships. He attributed the party’s current standing to a combination of internal and external challenges, as well as a significant drop in voter turnout. According to Lufefe, many traditional supporters chose to stay home, sending a message that the ANC needs to fix its internal structures and improve its performance.
Lufefe identified several critical issues that influenced voter sentiment during the campaign. These included organizational instability within the party, perceived levels of corruption, and severe service delivery failures regarding water, electricity, roads, and general infrastructure quality. Additionally, he cited high levels of unemployment and crime in the Nelson Mandela Bay area as major concerns raised by residents.
Looking ahead to coalition negotiations, Lufefe confirmed that the ANC’s approach will be guided by the party’s national leadership. The national structure will lead the coalition talks and form dedicated teams for municipal negotiations.
Regardless of the coalition outcomes, Lufefe emphasized that the ANC’s core principle in Nelson Mandela Bay is to insist on the formation of a stable government and administration. He stressed that political stability is essential to ensure efficient service delivery and to effectively address the pressing needs of the metro’s residents.
