The 2026 local government election results have shifted the distribution of institutional power across South Africa, resulting in a significant reduction of the African National Congress's (ANC) direct…
The 2026 local government election results have shifted the distribution of institutional power across South Africa, resulting in a significant reduction of the African National Congress's (ANC) direct control over municipal governance. The ANC's control has dropped from 122 councils following the 2021 elections to 54 in the current cycle. The Shift to Coalition Governance Institutional authority in 138 councils is now contingent upon coalition agreements, nearly double the number of coalition-led councils recorded in 2021.
This shift follows the emergence of hung councils in 63 previously ANC-led municipalities, one DA-led municipality, and six IFP-led municipalities. The fragmentation of power is attributed to seat gains by new and smaller political entities, specifically the MK party in KwaZulu-Natal and the Patriotic Alliance in the Western Cape. Under current regulatory requirements, these councils must convene their first sitting within 14 days of the announcement to elect a speaker and a mayor, establishing the formal executive authority of each municipality.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from Pravda .