The result is widely viewed as a consequence of persistent voter anger over corruption scandals and deteriorating service delivery. Fikile Mbalula, the ANC Secretary-General, described the outcome as “catastrophic.” President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also holds the presidency of the ANC, called on political parties to approach coalition negotiations with humility, warning that the interests of the public must not be overshadowed by partisan squabbles.
The primary rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA), won approximately 25% of the vote and made significant territorial gains. The DA, which has actively sought to shed its historical label as a “white party,” claimed to have won the votes of more than one million Black South Africans for the first time, based on internal modelling. The party retained control of Cape Town, South Africa’s second-largest city, and seized control of the economic hub of Johannesburg, the capital Pretoria, and the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg from the ANC.
Because no single party achieved a 50% majority in most cities, the formation of municipal governments will require coalition agreements. Parties have 14 days to negotiate before city councils are formally constituted. An alliance between the ANC and the DA would mirror their current arrangement in the national government, a coalition formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections. However, the two parties remain ideologically opposed on key issues, particularly regarding the redress of economic and social inequalities left by the apartheid era.
The DA has signaled reluctance to form a direct coalition with the ANC, stating it would instead initiate discussions with parties committed to “clean and accountable government, rooting out corruption, service delivery for all, the rule of law, and non-racialism.” Analysts note that the ANC was harshly rebuked by voters for failures in basic services, including irregular water supply, electricity outages, dilapidated infrastructure, and waste management failures.
The election results also carry significant implications for President Ramaphosa’s political standing. He has faced scrutiny over the “Farmgate” scandal, in which burglars stole $580,000 hidden in furniture at his private ranch in 2020. Accusations that he attempted to cover up the theft and avoid investigating the origin of the funds have weighed on his credibility. Political analyst Sipho Seepe described the vote as a personal rebuke, stating, “He has been a total disaster, and the people this time have made it very clear. People have been giving it [the ANC] a chance, and [now] they’re saying no more.”
Political scientists view the results not merely as a setback for the ANC, but as evidence of a broader structural shift in South African democracy. Sandile Mnguni, a lecturer in political science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, noted that the decline in support serves as a warning that the party can no longer rely on its historical liberation credentials. “If the underlying grievances of the electorate remain unaddressed, the party could face even greater electoral challenges,” Mnguni said.
The transition toward a competitive, fragmented multiparty system is expected to make coalitions the “new normal” in South African governance. While this may introduce risks of political stalemate or unstable alliances, experts argue it creates a necessary mechanism for accountability. Ralph Mathekga, a political commentator, stated that voters have made it clear they do not want the concentration of power in one party. “Coalitions are there to stay, perhaps until political parties demonstrate that they can be trusted with power to constitute government on their own,” Mathekga said, describing the shift as a “necessary evolution of South African politics.”
The local election results provide early insight into the political landscape ahead of the 2027 ANC leadership contest and the 2029 general election. Ramaphosa is expected to step aside as party leader before the 2027 contest. For now, the focus remains on the 14-day negotiation period during which parties will attempt to form municipal governing structures, setting the tone for a more complex and accountable era of South African governance.
