South Africa's ANC faces major losses in local government elections
Associated Press ·
South Africa's African National Congress faces a significant decline in voter support, according to interim results from local elections held this week. The ANC has garnered nearly 31% of the votes with about three-quarters of ballots counted, trailing behind rivals in key cities like Johannesburg and eThekwini. The ANC received just over 45% of votes in the 2021 local elections. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu acknowledges the drop as a strong message from voters. The ANC has dominated since 1994 but lost its parliamentary majority in 2024. Major cities may require coalition governments, with the Democratic Alliance considering potential partnerships.