In brief
At the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africa’s political parties to prioritize service delivery over political gains. The ANC remains the country’s largest party, securing 30.76% of the vote and 3,282 council seats. With 138 hung councils, coalition negotiations are inevitable.
In a live briefing at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South African parties to put service delivery and community interests above power struggles as coalition negotiations begin after the 2026 local elections.
Ramaphosa said the scramble for positions must not undermine municipal stability or delay essential services for citizens—reminding that the authority to govern comes from the people, not inheritance or ownership.
Speaker: President Cyril Ramaphosa
"The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any political entity."
Xinhua reports that the ANC, led by Ramaphosa, remains South Africa’s largest party, with 30.76% of the vote and 3,282 council seats. The Democratic Alliance finished second with 24.64% and 1,722 seats, followed by uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) at 9.77% (799 seats), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at 6.22% (592 seats), and ActionSA at 5.67% (320 seats). Other parties and independents together captured 22.94% of the vote and secured representation across municipal councils.
Turnout and Council Outcomes
Record turnout of 14.9 million voters—52% of the electorate—marks a 6.1 percentage‑point increase from 2021. All 213 municipal councils were finalized. The ANC secured outright majorities in 53 councils and led in 128; the DA won outright majorities in 12 and led in 32. Overall, 74 councils were won outright by a single party, while 138 remain hung, setting the stage for coalition talks.
Johannesburg Council Dynamics
In Johannesburg’s 270‑seat council, the DA emerged as the largest party with 91 seats, followed by the ANC at 63 and ActionSA at 43. No party reached the required 136 seats for an outright majority, confirming the need for coalition agreements.
