South African voters hand the ANC its worst-ever election result

Summary

South African voters handed the African National Congress its worst-ever election result in last week's local elections, and the party that led the struggle against apartheid is no longer the force it was more than three decades ago. The electoral commission said on Sunday that the ANC took 30.76 percent of votes in municipal elections, its worst-ever performance, while one report put its share at just over 30 percent. The party had dominated South African politics since the end of apartheid, and corruption, joblessness and infighting have eroded its hold on power. With no party winning outright in many municipalities, the results set the stage for fraught multiparty coalition negotiations to govern several major cities.

Timeline

1. Semafor

   9 Nov 2026, 13:39 UTCSource ↗

   Semafor reports that South African voters punished the ANC with its worst-ever result, and that the party that led the struggle against apartheid is no longer the force it was more than three decades ago.

2. RFI

   9 Nov 2026, 15:45 UTCSource ↗

   RFI reports that the ANC took just over 30 percent of votes in last week's local elections, its worst-ever electoral performance, according to the electoral commission, which said so on Sunday.

3. The Hindu

   10 Nov 2026, 03:52 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu's explainer reports that corruption, joblessness and infighting have eroded the party's hold on power, and that its latest local poll result is its weakest yet.

4. France 24

   10 Nov 2026, 10:15 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that the ANC took 30.76 percent of votes in municipal elections, its worst-ever performance, and that with no party winning outright in many municipalities, coalition negotiations to govern several major cities will be fraught.