Symbolic imageANC slumps to record low in local elections as coalition talks begin
The ANC took about 32% in Wednesday's South African local elections, its worst result, ahead of the DA at about 24%.
With more than 80% of ballots counted by Friday, the ANC stood at 31.8%, almost 14 points below 2021, the Guardian reports. Jacob Zuma's MK party had 9.3%, down from 14.5% in the 2024 national vote, according to Le Monde. Turnout rose to 54.5% from 46% in 2021. The Guardian says the ANC is projected to lose its status as biggest party in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal; final results are expected on Sunday.
Coalition bargaining in the cities
In Johannesburg the DA led with 40% after just over half the votes, ahead of the ANC on 17.5% and ActionSA on 15.5%. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has pledged never to work with the DA's Helen Zille, whom he calls racist; she denies this. The DA leads in six of the eight big cities, and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says contacts with other parties are still informal.
Zuma's party short in Durban
In eThekwini, which contains Durban, MK had 41% at half count, so other parties could form a coalition to keep it out of power. The CSIR thinktank projects 32% for MK there.
Succession congress
Le Monde says the score is closely watched ahead of the party congress in a year that will choose a successor to Cyril Ramaphosa, who cannot stand again.