Final results reported by Reuters showed the ANC winning 30.76% of the vote, compared with 24.64% for the Democratic Alliance. The uMkhonto weSizwe party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, secured 9.76%, while the remaining vote was divided among hundreds of smaller parties.
The result marks a further decline for the ANC, which won 45.59% in the 2021 municipal elections. Voter dissatisfaction has been linked in part to persistent failures in basic services, including water and electricity, as well as broader concerns about governance and public accountability.
No party secured more than half the vote in several municipalities, including Johannesburg, meaning coalition agreements will be required to establish governing majorities. The number of municipalities needing coalition arrangements more than doubled compared with the previous local elections, reflecting a more fragmented electorate and a more complex negotiating environment.
In Johannesburg, the Democratic Alliance won about 35% of the vote, against roughly 20% for the ANC. The result strengthened the DA’s position in discussions over the city’s leadership, although the outcome will depend on agreements with smaller parties. ActionSA, which secured about 16% in Johannesburg, said it would not support the DA with Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described the result as catastrophic for the party, while President Cyril Ramaphosa called on political groups to approach negotiations with humility and prioritise residents’ interests. Parties were given 14 days to negotiate before city councils are formed.
The political shift carries implications for service delivery, municipal finances and the business environment. Coalition administrations will need to agree on budgets, infrastructure priorities and approaches to procurement, often across parties with different policy positions. Uncertainty over leadership could delay decisions, while effective cooperation could improve accountability and local administration.
For investors, the outcome reinforces the importance of municipal governance to South Africa’s operating environment. Reliable electricity, water, transport and permitting systems remain essential to businesses. The election does not determine national government policy, but it demonstrates the growing influence of coalition politics in the country’s largest cities and the pressure on established parties to respond to public dissatisfaction.
