South Africa's ANC suffers worst election results
The gist
South Africa's ANC took 30.76% in municipal elections, down from 46% in 2021.
The loss weakens the party that ended apartheid ahead of 2029.
How it unfolded
- Nov 4, 2026South Africa held local government (municipal) elections, dominated by concerns over failing water and power supplies.
- Nov 5, 2026With 55% of votes counted, the ANC had 31.8%, the DA 25.8%, the MKP 8.2% and the EFF 5.9%, per the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
- Nov 6, 2026With 80% counted, the ANC remained the largest party at 31.8%; CSIR projections put its support at nearly 30%.
Key terms
- ANC
- A South African political party that began as an anti-apartheid liberation movement and has governed the country since 1994.
- apartheid
- A system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.
- DA
- A liberal political party in South Africa, historically the country's second-largest party.
Source: Wikipedia