South Africa's electoral commission has formally declared the 2026 local government elections free and fair, confirming a fractured result in which the African National Congress remains the country's largest party but has fallen far short of its previous support. Independent Electoral Commission chairperson Mosotho Moepya delivered the declaration at the National Results Operations Centre at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Sunday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance.

The vote was held on Wednesday, 4 November, with special voting on 2 and 3 November. The commission said all 213 municipal councils had been finalised and declared. About 29.2 million voters were registered and around 14.9 million South Africans cast ballots, putting turnout at 52 per cent, up from 45.9 per cent in the 2021 local elections.

According to the commission's national declaration, the ANC won 30.89 per cent of the vote and 3,164 council seats, down sharply from about 45.6 per cent in 2021. The Democratic Alliance took 24.60 per cent and 1,527 seats, while provisional results placed the MK Party on about 9.7 per cent. The outcome leaves coalition bargaining across much of local government, where no party commands an outright majority nationally.

Ramaphosa attended the ceremony in his capacity as President and delivered brief remarks, congratulating South Africans on their participation and challenging newly elected councillors to focus on the issues affecting their communities, including water, sanitation, roads and refuse collection. The commission also dealt with 197 formal objections, including cases that led to recounts in five wards, and said outstanding objections would not prevent the announcement, although some results could still be amended. Read the full report on the declaration.