South Africa is entering a new political era following the local government elections held on November 4, 2026. The African National Congress (ANC), which has dominated the country’s political landscape since the end of apartheid in 1994, is facing its worst electoral performance to date. Although it remains the country’s largest political party with just over 30% of the vote, the ANC is losing ground as political parties begin negotiations to form governing coalitions in municipalities where no party has secured an outright majority.

The election results point to a significant shift in South Africa’s political landscape, with voters increasingly moving away from the traditional political establishment.

According to the results published by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the ANC secured approximately 30.8% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which obtained close to 24.6%. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party also emerged as an important political force, securing approximately 9.8% of the vote.