South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) remains the largest party in the 2026 local government elections, winning 30.76 percent of the vote—a decline of more than 14 percentage points from the 2021 local elections, the Electoral Commission announced Monday. Despite the sharp drop in voter support, the ANC still holds the most seats in the newly elected local councils.
The final results released by the Electoral Commission on Sunday confirmed the ANC’s continued dominance, although the party’s share of the vote fell from the levels seen in 2021. The party’s performance, according to the Commission’s report, places it ahead of all other parties contesting the elections.
Observers note that although the ANC’s support has weakened, its retaining of the largest share of seats underscores its ongoing influence in South Africa’s political landscape.
