South Africa's ANC suffers worst-ever municipal election result

· Politics · South Africa

South Africa's African National Congress, the party of late Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela, slumped to its worst-ever result in last week's municipal elections, results showed on Sunday. Voters blamed the ANC for water and electricity shortages, DW reported. The stinging blow weakens the party's hand in the coalition talks that will follow to form city governments, the Straits Times reported from Johannesburg. The result extends a pattern of declining support for the liberation-era party and raises the prospect of more fragmented local coalitions across the country's cities.

Why it matters：Weakening ANC dominance in municipalities signals voters' impatience with failing services and could reshape urban governance in Africa's most industrialized economy.

Key points

  • Voters blamed the ANC for water and electricity shortages.
  • The result is the party's worst-ever municipal performance.
  • Coalition talks to form city governments will follow.

Sources (original reporting)

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