South Africa's Ruling ANC Suffers Worst-Ever Defeat in Municipal Elections
South Africa's ruling ANC party has suffered a catastrophic defeat in municipal elections, securing just 30.76% of the vote amid widespread public dissatisfaction over failing infrastructure.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat in municipal elections, securing just 30.76% of the vote. This marks a dramatic plunge from the 46% it garnered in the 2021 municipal polls, prompting the party's secretary-general to describe the outcome as catastrophic.
The scope of the defeat is evident across the nation's provinces and major metropolitan areas. The ANC won a majority in only one of South Africa's nine provinces, Limpopo, down from six in 2021. Furthermore, the party secured the highest number of votes in just two of the eight major cities, compared to victories in six cities during the previous local elections.
South African President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the crushing results, stating that the party accepts the verdict of the electorate with humility. "We accept the will of the people, however concerning it may be," Ramaphosa said. This historic setback follows the party's loss of its national parliamentary majority in 2024 for the first time since the end of apartheid.
Political analysts attribute the sharp decline in support primarily to failing public services and deteriorating infrastructure, ranging from erratic water and electricity supplies to poor sanitation. Political analyst Susan Booysen noted that the elections delivered a devastating message regarding issues that profoundly impact the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
The centrist Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second with 24.64% of the vote, followed by former president Jacob Zuma's MK party with 9.76%. The fractured results will force political factions into complex negotiations to form local coalitions, marking what analyst William Gumede describes as a new era for South African politics.
