ANC support plunges in early vote

Johannesburg, Nov. 7: South Africa's long-dominant African National Congress party was set to lose significant voter support and control of some major cities in local government elections held this week, interim results across the country showed on Friday. South Africans voted this week in local polls that determine which parties get to control major cities and local municipal districts that are responsible for the delivery of basic services like water, road maintenance and rubbish removal.

With 76% of votes counted nationally, the ANC had garnered nearly 31% and was lagging behind rival parties in key cities like Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini. During the last local government elections in 2021, the ANC received just over 45% of votes nationally. Its worst electoral performance was in 2024 national elections, when it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu on Friday acknowledged the latest results show the party was losing significant voter support.