With the results in only 117 municipalities declared, the number of hung councils is already higher than the total number of hung councils in 2021 (a hung council is one where no party wins a majority).

With nearly 80% of votes counted, the Electoral Commission of South Africa had declared 117 of South Africa’s 213 municipalities following Wednesday’s local government elections.

In 2021, of those 117 municipalities, 39 had been hung. After Wednesday’s election, of those 117 municipalities, 82 are hung, more than doubling the previous figure.

The chart below shows, of the municipalities declared to date, whether they were hung or had a majority in 2021 and 2026.

The Common Sense had previously estimated that between 100 and 130 of South Africa’s 213 municipalities were likely to be hung after Wednesday’s election. Analysts at The Common Sense say they believe that this will now be at the higher end of the estimate.

After the previous local government election in 2021, only 66 of South Africa's 213 municipalities had been hung.