Overview
- Voting took place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and the IEC says about 15.9 million people cast ballots, roughly 54.5 percent of the 29.2 million registered voters.
- Counting began at polling stations after polls closed and the IEC is running a multi-step process that scans result slips, captures data at local offices and conducts independent audits to verify outcomes.
- The Northern Cape became the first province to complete capture, with the ANC topping that province at just over 41 percent and winning 191 council seats while other provinces remain mid-process.
- Early national tallies put the ANC at about 31–32 percent and the DA leading in several key metros such as Johannesburg and parts of Gauteng, though large municipalities remain unconfirmed and figures can change as more slips are audited.
- Because many councils look set to lack outright majorities, parties face days to weeks of coalition bargaining that will determine who controls municipal services and who bears responsibility for fixing water, electricity and waste collection problems.