South Africa votes as ANC faces further losses and cities brace for coalition rule
South Africans are voting in local elections amid anger over water shortages, unreliable electricity, crime and poor public services. Polls cited by the BBC put the African National Congress at 30%, while Reuters reports polls suggesting it could fall below 40%; analysts expect fragmented results to leave many councils negotiating coalition governments.
Bottom line — The Electoral Commission has seven days to announce results, after which parties have 14 days to form councils and elect mayors.
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Nearly 29 million people are registered to vote, according to South Africa’s electoral commission, cited by Anadolu Ajansı.
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The ANC fell below 50% in the 2021 municipal elections and lost its national parliamentary majority in 2024, according to Reuters.
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The BBC reports that Johannesburg has had 10 mayors in 10 years; the city is among the key contests.
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Reuters says Democratic Alliance candidate Helen Zille is projected to win the most votes in Johannesburg but fall short of a majority.
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In eThekwini, which includes Durban, Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party is polling strongly, according to The Guardian.
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The Guardian reports that the ANC and DA are both leading parties in South Africa’s national unity government, but local ANC leaders in Gauteng are reportedly reluctant to form a similar alliance.
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Deutsche Welle reports that the Electoral Commission is investigating more than 700 complaints of election disinformation.