Elections
latest news & developments
Only DA mayor in KwaZulu-Natal to be sworn in
Chris Pappas will be sworn in as KwaZulu-Natal's only DA mayor after the party secured an outright majority in the uMngeni local municipality.
Horse trading as coalition talks kick into gear
As coalition talks gather pace across hung South African municipalities, the ANC explores whether the SACP could transfer council seats to rescue mayoral candidates in…
ANC presidents live in wards run by rival parties
Several prominent South African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, and Kgalema Motlanthe, now reside in municipal wards…
Big votes but bigger hurdles for MK Party
Despite winning the largest vote share in 19 hung councils across KwaZulu-Natal, the MK Party faces tough coalition negotiations to avoid being sidelined once again into the…
More parties; fewer voters
Despite a record surge in political parties contesting South Africa's elections, voter participation continues to decline as citizens confront unfulfilled promises, coalition…
South Africa should start preparing for a white president
As voting patterns shift in response to poor service delivery and stalled economic transformation, an analysis explores how the failure of black political leadership could…
The election we celebrated, the women we forgot - South Africa's gender transformation in reverse
While South Africa's 2024 elections ushered in a new democratic coalition era, female political representation suffered a significant decline, highlighting the urgent need for…
MK party lays down ground rules, warns municipal deployments are not entitlement or personal reward
The uMkhonto weSizwe party has warned its members against public infighting over municipal council deployments, reminding them that public office is a responsibility rather than…
ANC embarks on recovery plan after KZN electoral bloodbath, says not all is lost
Despite a severe electoral setback and losing major strongholds like eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC maintains that recent gains in vote share mark the beginning of its…
When voters start asking questions after the ballot is cast
After local elections, some South African voters experienced regret upon discovering the full context behind social media campaign clips. Examining candidate records is crucial…
IEC Declares 2026 local elections ‘free and fair’ as SA enters coalition era
Following the IEC's declaration of the 2026 local government elections as free and fair, economists and political analysts weigh in on what the shift toward municipal coalitions…
‘No time for petty squabbles’, says Ramaphosa as coalition tensions brew
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on political parties to negotiate in good faith to form functional municipal councils, warning that infighting must not hinder basic service…
ANC barely hangs on as DA and ActionSA make gains in final IEC results
The IEC has finalised the 2026 local government election results, showing the ANC clinging to a national lead with just 30.76% of the vote amid significant gains for the DA and…
Municipal Coalitions Bill - Why it is important
The parties in South Africa's Government of National Unity must unite to pass the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, establishing vital framework rules for stable local…
Trust in the IEC remains high, at 81%
President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the IEC's official announcement of the 2026 Local Government Elections final results at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.