South Africa's ANC posts worst-ever 30.76% vote in municipal elections

The African National Congress (ANC), which has led South African politics since apartheid ended, received 30.76 percent of votes in recent municipal elections, marking its worst-ever electoral performance, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, as reported by France 24 and allafrica.com.

No single party won outright control in many municipalities, setting the stage for complex multiparty coalition negotiations to govern several major cities, the Electoral Commission chairperson Mosotho Moepya noted.

The ANC's main rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA), secured 24.64 percent of the vote and is currently the ANC's main partner in the national unity government, according to allafrica.com.

Voter turnout increased to 52 percent, up six points from the 2021 elections affected by COVID-19, reflecting heightened public engagement in the municipal vote.

The ANC's decline is significant compared to its near two-thirds vote share in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, with challenges such as high unemployment, crime, corruption scandals, and service delivery issues cited as factors influencing voter sentiment.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula acknowledged shortcomings in service delivery, including water shortages, refuse collection, and road maintenance, describing the election results as "catastrophic," according to allafrica.com.