South Africa's governing African National Congress is heading for its worst electoral result since the end of apartheid, with near-final results from Wednesday's local government elections putting the party on about 31 per cent of the vote.

With about 97 per cent of voting districts counted by Saturday morning, the ANC had 30.97 per cent of valid votes, or 8,871,201 ballots, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa's results dashboard. The Democratic Alliance (DA) was second on 24.55 per cent, with 7,033,125 votes. Counting in 190 of the country's 213 municipalities was complete.

A steep fall from 2021

The result is a sharp fall for the ANC, which won 45.59 per cent in the 2021 local elections and 40 per cent in the 2024 national election. Reuters reported on Friday that the party faced its worst-ever electoral defeat, with voters punishing it over crime, corruption scandals and failing basic services such as water and electricity.

The DA, by contrast, has expanded its support from 21.66 per cent in 2021 to about 24.5 per cent, and was leading in six of the country's eight metropolitan municipalities. Former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party placed third nationally on about 9.6 per cent in its municipal debut, and was leading in the eThekwini metropolitan area around Durban.

Coalitions now loom

No final result has been declared, and the figures remain provisional until the Electoral Commission announces the official outcome, which is expected on Sunday 8 November. Parties will then have two weeks to form governing arrangements, with many councils — including Johannesburg — expected to need coalitions.