South Africa municipal elections: Who are the winners and losers?

The governing African National Congress (ANC) has dipped below 50% of the vote for the first time in South Africa’s democratic history.

The ANC suffered a bruising defeat in key cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), where it failed to secure an outright majority.

The main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), also saw its share of the vote decline, but it managed to retain control of several key municipalities.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA, a new party led by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, made significant gains, positioning themselves as potential kingmakers in coalition negotiations.

Voter turnout was historically low, with many South Africans expressing disillusionment with the political establishment due to high unemployment, corruption, and poor service delivery.