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The Democratic Alliance (DA) is likely to be the biggest party in Johannesburg by some distance in next month’s local government election (LGE) but is still some way short of a majority.

This is according to polling conducted by the Social Research Foundation (SRF), in conjunction with The Common Sense.

The latest polling showed that the DA had the support of 36% of voters in the city, the African National Congress had the support of 22%, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party 11%, ActionSA 9%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters 6%.

The chart below shows the result of the 2021 LGE in Johannesburg, results from the last three polls the SRF and The Common Sense conducted in the city, and the average support level for each party across the three polls.

Methodology

The figures come from a Social Research Foundation market survey conducted in conjunction with The Common Sense and carried out by Victory Research using telephonic CATI interviews. A single-frame random digit dialling design was used, with respondents screened for voter registration and then interviewed, and the sample was further quota-controlled for key demographic characteristics of South Africa’s registered voter population. National SIM card penetration exceeds 250.0%, making telephonic interviewing a reliable method of reaching a representative sample of registered voters. The sample was fully weighted according to the demographic parameters of the registered voter population.

The survey was conducted from 18 September to 12 October 2026 among 3 100 respondents.

It must be stressed that the election polling numbers are not forecasts or predictions. They are snapshots in time and South African politics is particularly fluid at the moment.