ANC Continues to Lose Ground as Coalition Politics Becomes the New Normal
The 2026 local government elections confirmed the continuing decline of support for the African National Congress (ANC), while the Democratic Alliance (DA) further strengthened its position in South Africa’s urban centres. At the same time, increasing political fragmentation has accelerated the shift towards coalition governance, making cooperation between parties an enduring feature of the country’s political landscape. Electoral outcomes were driven primarily by voters’ assessments of local government performance, service delivery, and public accountability rather than by historical loyalties or ideological affiliations. The elections also highlighted growing concerns about political violence, xenophobia, and social cohesion, while raising important questions about the future of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
