Politics · World News Bureau
ANC's grip weakens as South Africa's ruling party slumps in local polls
President Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress has recorded its worst electoral performance in three decades, securing just 31 percent of the national vote in local government elections. The result signals growing voter discontent with service delivery failures and corruption allegations.
LSN World News ·
South Africa's ruling African National Congress saw its share of the vote plummet to 31 percent in municipal elections, marking a historic low for the party that has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994. With 99 percent of ballots counted, the result represents a significant erosion of support for President Cyril Ramaphosa's government.
The electoral setback reflects mounting frustration among South African voters over persistent service delivery problems, including widespread power outages and infrastructure failures. Economic stagnation and unemployment exceeding 30 percent have further fueled public discontent with the governing party.
The ANC's declining fortunes come amid ongoing internal party divisions and scandals involving senior officials. The party's loss of ground in municipal contests, where local governments handle crucial services such as water, electricity, and waste management, underscores the immediate impact of governance challenges on voter behavior.
Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters, capitalized on voter disaffection, though final seat distributions across local councils remained subject to ongoing tallies. The results will reshape South Africa's political landscape at the municipal level and potentially influence dynamics within the ANC ahead of national elections in 2026.