South Africa ANC records historic low in municipal elections

The African National Congress (ANC) has secured its lowest-ever vote share in South Africa's municipal elections, capturing approximately 31% of the vote nationally. While remaining the largest party, the ANC failed to secure an absolute majority in any of the eight major metropolitan areas, including Johannesburg and Pretoria.

In the Free State province, provisional results indicate the ANC remains the leading party with 37.4% of the proportional representation vote and 244 seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 25.7% and 150 seats. Analysts suggest the party's decline is driven by voter frustration regarding mass unemployment, corruption scandals, and poor local governance.

The Democratic Alliance has strengthened its position as the primary opposition, maintaining control of Cape Town and positioning itself strongly in Pretoria and Johannesburg. The shift toward lower majorities is expected to increase the necessity for coalition negotiations and impact local governance stability across the country.