South Africa's ANC heads to all-time election low with a third of vote

The municipal elections Wednesday were dominated by concerns over failing water and power supplies in one of Africa's wealthiest nations, which became a democra

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa co-hosts, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (not pictured), a summit on the Global Fund on November 21, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, ahead of the G20 Summit that starts tomorrow. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS

With final results expected by Sunday, the election authority dashboard showed the ANC was still the largest party with just over 31 percent of votes after 90 percent had been declared.

This was its lowest score yet after the party that led the anti-apartheid struggle secured just over 40 percent at the 2024 national polls and 46 percent at the previous municipal elections in 2021.

The plummet in ANC support from nearly 70 percent in 2004 national elections follows disillusionment over corruption, mismanagement and high unemployment, while splinter parties have also eaten away at its traditional support base.

Source: Citizen Digital