South Africa's ANC faces worst-ever local election result

· Politics · South Africa

Near-final results show South Africa's once-dominant African National Congress will see its lowest-ever vote percentage in local elections, according to reports. The party is taking the blame for shoddy municipal services, including water and electricity shortages. The result marks a further erosion of support for the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid and lost its national majority in 2024, forcing it into a coalition. Local governments deliver basic services such as water and power, and failures there have fueled public anger.

Why it matters：The ANC's decline reshapes South Africa's politics and tests whether coalition government can fix failing basic services.

Key points

  • The ANC is set for its lowest-ever local election result.
  • Voters are blaming the party for water and electricity shortages.
  • The ANC lost its national majority in 2024.

Sources (original reporting)

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