SOUTH AFRICA — The latest update on the South African municipal election results indicates that 57% of all votes have been declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), with the African National Congress (ANC) currently leading in 50 councils. The update was provided with approximately 14 minutes remaining before 9:00 p.m., as the electoral board continued to process the remaining ballots.
Recent shifts in council control show the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party increasing its controlled councils from two to three. The ANC is currently controlling 15 of the councils where it holds the lead, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) is leading in 16 councils and currently controlling five.
Political analysts observing the broadcast noted that the shift in the electoral picture is progressing at a “glacial” pace, though distinct regional narratives are beginning to emerge. Political analyst Yolokazi Mfuto highlighted that while the ANC remains at the top of the overall leaderboard, the party has lost some of its traditional strongholds in specific wards. These losses are particularly notable in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Cape.
A significant development in the South African municipal election results is the performance of the South African Communist Party (SACP). Marking its first official, large-scale national electoral rollout, the SACP has secured a position in the top 10. Mfuto expressed strong impressions of the party’s ability to gather support, specifically highlighting their success in the Eastern Cape. In the Raymond Mhlaba municipality, the SACP successfully captured several wards previously held by the ANC.
As the remaining votes are tallied and the final electoral picture crystallizes, attention is shifting toward the post-election landscape. Observers and analysts are now focused on determining which councils will require coalition governments and which parties will ultimately form these alliances.
