South Africans are voting in closely contested local elections that could further weaken the African National Congress (ANC), the former ruling party. The nearly 300 municipalities being contested are responsible for basic services including water, electricity and refuse collection, making local performance a central issue for voters.
The elections come after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 2024, having governed with a majority since the end of apartheid in 1994. Its share of the vote fell from 70% in the 2004 general election to 40% two decades later. Anger over corruption, unemployment and crime has contributed to the party’s longer-term decline.
Residents in Alexandra, a township north-east of Johannesburg where the ANC has traditionally had strong support, told the BBC they were frustrated by poor services. Rubbish piles and potholes were visible in the area, while residents described difficulties with water and electricity.
First-time voter Sanele Ntombela said he hoped voting could bring change. Some of his friends, however, said they had not registered and did not plan to vote, citing a lack of improvement in services. Zandile Mncube, who is registered, said she would abstain because local leadership had not improved conditions.
Similar complaints were reported in Soweto, where resident Mduduzi Makhubo said his community regularly faced water and electricity problems. He intends to vote, saying he wants to challenge what he sees as local leaders’ “arrogance” and change the status quo.
The concerns reflect wider problems in municipal governance. A recent auditor-general report recorded 39 clean audits among the country’s 257 municipalities for 2024–25. None of Gauteng’s three metropolitan municipalities—Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni—was among them. Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has warned that Johannesburg’s financial health and service delivery require continued attention.
Polls suggest the ANC could record its weakest local-election result. An Ipsos survey put the party at 30%, compared with 46% in the 2021 local elections. The same poll projected the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 25%, up from 22%, including gains in Johannesburg. DA leader Helen Zille has campaigned for the city’s mayoral position.
All three Gauteng metros are currently governed by coalitions, with the ANC the largest party in each. Political analyst Melanie Verwoerd expects coalitions to remain common in the province and said the election would serve as a judgment on the ANC. She also warned that changes in coalition leadership can disrupt municipal services.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party is projected to perform strongly in eThekwini, which includes Durban, but may need coalition partners to govern. Founded by former president Jacob Zuma, the party has said it will not work with either the ANC or the DA, a stance Verwoerd said could make forming a municipal government difficult.
Analysts also pointed to declining voter turnout, particularly among young people. Dr Levy Ndou linked the trend to the quality of candidates and the limited visibility of local councillors during campaigns. South Africa’s electoral commission has seven days to announce the results, after which parties have 14 days to form governing structures.
Sources: BBC News World.