In brief
In a speech at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South African political parties to look beyond power battles and instead champion service delivery for the electorate. Official results show the ANC still as the largest party, but 138 of 213 councils are hung, necessitating coalitions that will shape who delivers water, sanitation, and other public services. The vote marked a 52‑percent turnout, indicating sustained civic engagement amid the country’s evolving democratic landscape.
On Sunday, 9 November, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed political parties at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, urging them to put service delivery on the agenda as coalition talks begin after the country's 2026 local government elections.
The announcement came after the IEC released official figures that confirmed the African National Congress (ANC) remained the largest party, winning 30.76 percent of the national vote and securing 3,282 of the 10,526 municipal council seats contested. The Democratic Alliance (DA) followed with 24.64 percent and 1,722 seats, while the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and ActionSA secured 9.77 percent, 6.22 percent, and 5.67 percent of the vote respectively, translating into 799, 592, and 320 seats.
Other political parties and independent candidates together captured 22.94 percent of votes, ensuring representation across 213 municipal councils. In total, the ANC already holds outright majorities in 53 municipalities and leads in 128; the DA has outright majorities in 12 councils and leads in 32. Out of 213 councils, 74 were won outright by a single party, while the remaining 138 are hung, meaning no single party has an absolute majority.
In the city of Johannesburg, the coalition stakes are particularly clear. The DA won the most seats with 91 out of 270, followed by the ANC holding 63 seats and ActionSA 43. No party reached the 136-seat threshold required for an outright majority, underscoring the inevitability of negotiations among parties to form functional municipal governments.
Ramaphosa underscored that the arrivals of these election results reaffirming democratic institutions and the constitutional principle that all political authority belongs to the people. He cited the Freedom Charter’s foundational assertion that "the people shall govern" and stressed that governance is a collective responsibility rooted in popular mandate.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said:
"The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any political party or individual."
The statement echoed concerns that protracted power struggles could jeopardise essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation. Stakeholders emphasised that municipal stability must not be compromised, as any delay in council formations risks disrupting the delivery of these services to residents, particularly in historically underserved communities.
This heightens the stakes for voters who saw 14.9 million cast ballots, a turnout of 52 percent — an increase of 6.1 percentage points from the 2021 local elections. The participation level signals a persistent desire for accountability and effective public governance across South Africa.
Civic groups and local community organisations have called on parties to form inclusive coalitions that reflect the diverse interests of municipal residents. The potential for coordinated governance will be the decisive factor in whether promised improvements in infrastructure, waste management, and public safety materialise in the coming months.
With coalition negotiations underway, the composition of municipal councils will shape the allocation of municipal resources, the prioritisation of service‑delivery projects, and ultimately the lived experience of citizens across the country. The outcome of these talks will signal how South Africa balances political competition with the collective needs of its populace as it continues to evolve its democratic institutions.
