South Africa’s African National Congress is on course for a bruising defeat in this week’s local elections, falling to under a third of the national vote with more than 80% of ballots counted, The Guardian reported.
The ANC stood at 31.8%, almost 14 points below its 2021 local result. The Democratic Alliance had 24.1% and former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party 9.3%. Turnout rose to an estimated 54.5%, from 46% five years ago. Final results are expected Sunday.
The ANC is projected to lose its status as the biggest party in the two most populous provinces, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. In Johannesburg, with just over half of votes counted, the DA led with 40%, the ANC had 17.5% and ActionSA 15.5%. MK was on 41% with half of votes counted in the Durban area.
Coalition talks are under way behind closed doors. Councillors have two weeks to elect mayors and form municipal governments.
Sources: The Guardian
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