South Africa's African National Congress has recorded its worst result in local elections since the end of apartheid, winning about 31% of the national vote, down from 46% in 2021.
The Democratic Alliance came second with about 25% and kept majority control of Cape Town. Former President Jacob Zuma's MK party was third with about 10% and beat the ANC in Durban, while the Economic Freedom Fighters took about 6%, the BBC reported. The ANC won a majority in just one of the country's nine provinces, Limpopo, compared with six in 2021. Turnout was 52%.
"This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC," Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said Saturday. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the party accepts "the will of the people." Voters have blamed the ANC for water and electricity shortages, DW reported.
What's next
With no outright winner in several big cities, including Johannesburg and Pretoria, parties have 14 days to negotiate local coalitions. The ANC lost its national parliamentary majority in 2024 and governs in a coalition. Related: COP31 climate summit opens in Turkey.