South Africa Election 2026: 29.2m Registered as ANC Faces Major Test Over Failing Services
South Africa votes in 2026 municipal elections with 29.2 million registered voters. Water failures, unstable coalitions and ANC support are in focus as polls remain open.
South Africans are voting in nationwide municipal elections that could reshape control of major cities and test the African National Congress after years of complaints about water shortages, power failures and poor services. With 29.2 million people registered and more than 136,000 candidates contesting council seats, the result will determine who governs communities for the next five years.
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa opened polling stations on Wednesday for local government elections that could deepen the electoral decline of the African National Congress (ANC), which has governed nationally since the end of apartheid. The vote is taking place amid anger over unreliable water, electricity, sanitation and municipal administration, with major urban councils facing the prospect of difficult coalition negotiations.
South Africa Municipal Elections 2026
Explore the election-day figures, key metropolitan battlegrounds and the issues shaping the vote.
Election-day reporting snapshot: 4 November 2026Election-day timetable
Scheduled polling: 07:00–21:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).
This is the published election-day schedule, not a live indication that an individual polling station is open.
Explore the metropolitan battlegrounds
Johannesburg
Political contextHow the municipal system works
These are different categories of municipality. They should not be interpreted as three separate voting populations.
What counts as an election result?
Before declaration
Opinion polls, turnout estimates, preliminary counting and statistical projections.
Official results
Votes and seats confirmed by the Electoral Commission, followed by council and coalition processes.
A party with the most seats may still need coalition partners. Councillors elect the mayor after the election.
Five indicators to monitor
- Official voter turnout
- Party vote shares by municipality
- Certified council seat allocations
- Coalition agreements and mayoral elections
- Subsequent changes in municipal service performance
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