South Africa’s governing African National Congress stood at 31% with 99% of votes counted Sunday, leaving it short of a majority in each major metro and setting up coalition talks. AFP and Reuters reported the figures in an account carried by Al Jazeera.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) had 25% nationally, while former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party received about 10%. Hundreds of smaller parties divided the remaining votes. The ANC remained the country’s largest party, but its share was roughly 14 percentage points below its 2021 local-election result.
The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reported an earlier tally of 32% for the ANC and 28% for the DA, with 28% of votes counted, according to EconoTimes’ first vote-count update.
The ANC fell short of majority support in each of South Africa’s eight major metro areas. In Johannesburg, the DA led with about 35% of votes to the ANC’s 20%. AFP and Reuters reported that DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille could become mayor, depending on coalition agreements.
AFP and Reuters linked the ANC’s declining support to voter dissatisfaction over corruption, unemployment above 34% and problems with basic services such as water and electricity. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula called the result “catastrophic” Saturday and said the party would not “go begging for positions” in coalition talks.
The DA said it would start discussions with parties committed to “clean and accountable government, rooting out corruption, service delivery for all, the rule of law, and non-racialism.” Negotiations are due to run for 14 days before city councils take shape.
