Government

2026 election final results announced

Staff Writer

 ·8 Nov 2026

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has completed the vote counting for the 2026 Local Government Election, revealing a significant shift across the major metros.

• Click here to see the results from the Newsday Election Results Portal.

The election outcome marked a complete shift in tone for many municipalities, with the ANC suffering significant losses across the board.

Overall, the party has fallen by almost 15 percentage points in the national count since 2021, losing majorities and its leading position in all but two metros.

While it maintains a firm lead in Buffalo City, its lead in Mangaung is fractional, with only 0.5 points separating it and the DA.

The DA, meanwhile, has seen growth. The party has gained just under 3 points on the national scale, and has taken the lead in five of the eight metros. The outlier is eThekwini, where the MK Party left the ANC dazed.

The IEC said that one voting centre, where a party stormed in and destroyed ballots, would be subject to a revote at a future date.

Responding to the election outcome, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the party accepted the outcome with humility.

“The people of South Africa have spoken. As the ANC, we have heard [the] people. We recognise that many South Africans who once placed their confidence in the ANC have chosen to support other parties,” he said.

“Others have withdrawn from electoral participation altogether. We recognise their concerns; we will not question their judgement or explain away their decisions.”

Mbalula said the ANC will approach the election’s outcome with introspection.

“We will confront the reasons why people who once regarded the ANC as their natural political home have become disillusioned with our movement,” he said,

He said the party must accept that in too many communities local government has fallen short of expectations, and that service delivery failures have made people angry.

He said the party has to re-earn the trust of the electorate, and it cannot just expect it based on its history.

“The ANC must earn the confidence of the people through what it does today and what it delivers tomorrow. That is the lesson of these elections. And it is a lesson we accept with humility,” he said.

The DA has also taken a humble approach to its election gains, acknowledging its victories, and accepting that, without a clear majority in the metros, votes want coalitions to form.

“Our objective is to establish stable, effective governments that put residents first, restore accountability, and deliver the services communities deserve,” said DA Federal Council Chairperson, Ashor Sarupen.

“The DA approaches these discussions with humility, and we will respect the will of the voters,” he said.

“Voters have given a clear mandate, and we are determined to ensure that the governments formed after this election reflect the need for stability and delivery.”

Sarupen said that coalition discussions will be coordinated nationally under the authority of the DA Federal Executive to ensure a consistent, principled approach across the country.

“The DA is ready to govern for all, and we are ready to work with others who share our commitment to building municipalities that work for all.”

• Click here to see the results from the Newsday Election Results Portal.

South Africa 2026 election results

City of Johannesburg

City of Tshwane

City of Ekurhuleni

City of Cape Town

Nelson Mandela Bay

Buffalo City

Mangaung

eThekwini