JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — The South African local government elections have entered the critical counting phase at the IEC results centre, with early data indicating shifting political dynamics and prompting parties to outline their coalition strategies. With approximately 1% of the votes counted and 243 out of 23,660 voting districts completed, the electoral map continues to update as verified results trickle in.
Early fluctuations were noted in the initial data. The Democratic Alliance (DA), which initially hovered near 50% in the first batch of counted votes, saw its percentage drop to 36% as more districts were tallied. DA leader Helen Zille indicated the party is waiting for a clearer picture before making any announcements regarding coalition partnerships.
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) expressed optimism regarding its performance. A Freedom Front Plus Member of Parliament, speaking at the results centre, noted that the party is already seeing significant growth compared to the 2021 elections, having captured result slips showing victories in districts previously won by the NC. The spokesperson praised the largely peaceful nature of election day but highlighted significant administrative challenges, including long queues, untrained presiding officers, and approximately 200,000 addresses that disappeared from the voters’ roll during the special voting period.
Margaret Arnolds, spokesperson for the African Independent Congress (AIC) and current speaker of the Johannesburg council, stated that while the party was not yet on the leaderboard, results from their strongholds in the Eastern Cape and other regions were expected later. In the City of Johannesburg, the AIC is targeting five councillors, hoping to gain two to three additional seats. Arnolds confirmed the party is willing to form coalitions with like-minded groups serving marginalized communities, specifically naming the ANC, ACDP, and IFP as potential partners, while ruling out a partnership with the DA.
The Africa Mayoa Movement, contesting local government elections for the first time, reported receiving votes from farm areas. Nomanis, the party’s second deputy president, stated that the movement is contesting nationwide and expects strong results. Nomanis emphasized that the party is open to working with any “progressive forces” committed to improving the lives of South Africans.
Rise Mzansi mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Lukhona Mnguni, dismissed concerns over the party’s absence from the early leaderboard, noting that the party is primarily contesting in specific municipalities, including four in the Karoo, two in Limpopo, and one in the Eastern Cape. Mnguni predicted a stalemate between the ANC and DA in Johannesburg, positioning Rise Mzansi as a crucial “kingmaker.” He emphasized the party’s commitment to stable, collaborative coalitions, contrasting their approach with the combative styles of Helen Zille and Herman Mashaba.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) was noted at 2% on the early leaderboard, though their delegation was not present at the results centre during the latest updates. As the counting process continues, the political landscape remains fluid, with parties closely monitoring the audited results to determine the final composition of local governments.
