South Africans vote as anger over failing services threatens ANC

The party of Nelson Mandela fell below 50% support for the first time in municipal elections in 2021 and could drop below 40% this time, according to opinion po

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa reviews the honour guard, on the day he meets Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, March 9, 2026. REUTERS

With no other party large ​enough to take its place, many cities in South Africa are heading for unstable coalition governments that have been partly ​blamed for failing to deliver basic services, including water and electricity.

"I have seen the challenges that ⁠we face at local government level, but we are determined to rebuild our local government structure," President Cyril Ramaphosa ​said after voting in Johannesburg.

Polls will close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) and results are expected to be announced on Sunday.

Unreliable ​water and electricity supplies, unemployment, crime and a lack of affordable housing ranked among voters' biggest concerns ahead of the election.

Source: Citizen Digital