What's Next for the ANC After Historic Local Election Losses in South Africa

South Africa's governing African National Congress has been forced to confront its worst electoral setback to date, securing under 31 percent of the vote in significant local government elections. Party leaders have openly described the outcome as catastrophic, marking a steep decline for the political organization that led the country's liberation struggle and dominated the political landscape since the end of apartheid in 1994.

This outcome reflects growing public frustration regarding poor service delivery, skyrocketing unemployment, local governance failures, and years of graft and corruption at high levels. Tasnim Essop, a researcher at the Society, Work and Politics Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, notes that the results highlight a slow erosion of public confidence over a long period rather than an overnight shift.

South Africa's ruling ANC faces deep introspection following its worst-ever electoral setback.

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Voters across the country have expressed deep concern over basic municipal issues such as water, electricity, and housing. DW correspondent Dianne Hawker-Kalubi reported that voters noted a lack of basic services for years, while residents like Mokhiri Phooko in Cape Town stated that people are losing hope due to unfulfilled job promises and soaring unemployment rates.

In response, the ANC announced that its National Executive Committee would convene a special meeting to listen to the electorate, confront shortcomings, and provide leadership. The party must also prepare a framework for upcoming coalition negotiations with political rivals. Meanwhile, opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance and the uMkhonto weSizwe party made significant gains, signaling a broader political shift toward vote fluidity where citizens are increasingly willing to support alternative organizations.

Why it matters

The local election results mark a definitive end to an era of undisputed ANC dominance, proving that voters are ready to punish political entities that fail to deliver effective governance and public services. This political transformation affects the entire nation as parties must now navigate complex coalition dynamics to meet citizen expectations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that the outcomes challenge all political formations to unite and prove themselves worthy of public trust. Whether the ruling party can reverse its decline will depend entirely on its capacity to deliver tangible improvements in everyday governance.