This report provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa’s 2026 local government election results in the nine provinces, comparing party support across the 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026 elections.

All party figures are shares of the proportional representation (PR) vote, the ballot on which voters choose a party in each council. The report draws on Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) results for 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026, highlighting changes in party support over the past 15 years.

Information on the nine provinces is presented in alphabetical order. Each chart shows each party’s share of the PR vote across the province’s municipalities at the 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026, averaged across the province’s councils.

Eastern Cape

The ANC declined from 72% in 2011 to 66% in 2016 and 64% in 2021, and averages 47% for 2026. DA support moved from 16% to 20%, to 15%, and 18% in 2026.

Free State

The ANC fell from 72% in 2011 to 62% in 2016 and 51% in 2021, and 37% for 2026. The DA recorded 20% in 2011, 21% in 2016, and 19% in 2021, and averages 28% in 2026, narrowing the gap substantially.

Gauteng

ANC support in Gauteng declined from 60% in 2011 to 46% in 2016 and 36% in 2021, and averages 21% for 2026. DA support was 33%, 37%, and 28%, and averages 34% in 2026, ahead of the ANC, with ActionSA at 18%.

KwaZulu-Natal

The ANC recorded 58% in 2011 and 59% in 2016, before falling to 42% in 2021, and the 20% for 2026. The MKP averages 35%, while the DA averages 14%, compared with 12% in 2011, 15% in 2016, and 13% in 2021.

Limpopo

The ANC remained the largest party in Limpopo, although support dropped from 83% in 2011 to 69% in 2016 and held at 70% in 2021, and averages 55% for 2026. The DA recorded 7%, 8%, and 6%, and averages 8% in 2026. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has been the second-biggest party in the province in that period, having support of 17% and 15% in 2016 and 2021, respectively, and projected supported levels of 11% in 2026.

Mpumalanga

ANC support fell from 79% in 2011 to 71% in 2016 and 61% in 2021, and averages 44% for 2026. The DA remained relatively stable at 14%, 13%, and 12%, averaging 15%, while the MKP averages 10%.

Northern Cape

ANC support declined from 64% in 2011 to 59% in 2016 and 51% in 2021, and averages 41% for 2026. The DA recorded 22%, 25%, and 20%, and averages 22% in 2026. The PA averages 8%, up from 3% in 2021.

North West

The ANC declined from 75% in 2011 to 59% in 2016 and 56% in 2021, and averages 44% for 2026. The DA went from 16% to 15% and 11%, and averages 14% in 2026.

Western Cape

The DA retained its lead in the Western Cape, moving from 58% in 2011 to 64% in 2016 and 55% in 2021, and averages 54% for 2026. The ANC declined steadily from 34% to 26% and 20%, and averages 15% in 2026.