In brief
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center in Midrand on 9 November 2026, urging parties to focus on service delivery rather than positional politics as municipal coalitions are formed. He highlighted the democratic legitimacy of the elections and the need for stability across South Africa’s 213 councils, many of which will be hung. The ANC remains the largest party, but coalition negotiations are inevitable in most municipalities.
On Sunday, 9 November 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to delegates at the Independent Electoral Commission’s Results Operations Center in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, urging all South African political parties to put service delivery first as they negotiate to form municipal governments following the country’s 2026 local elections.
Ramaphosa, who led the African National Congress (ANC), said the elections were a “resounding affirmation of South Africa’s democratic institutions” and a reminder that all political authority belongs to the people. He cited the Freedom Charter’s foundational principle that “the people shall govern”. He added, in a tone that underscored the gravity of post‑election governance, “The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any ...”
"The authority to govern comes from the people. It is not inherited. It is not owned by any ..."
The president called on parties to avoid “political friction and the scramble for positions that could undermine municipal stability or delay essential services.” He emphasised that the public’s interests, particularly in areas such as water, sanitation, electricity and housing, should take precedence over partisan gains.
Coalition Landscape
According to official Independent Electoral Commission figures released on Sunday evening, the ANC secured 30.76 % of the national vote and won 3,282 of the 10,526 municipal council seats, maintaining its position as South Africa’s largest party. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second with 24.64 % and 1,722 seats, followed by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) with 9.77 % of the vote and 799 seats, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 6.22 % and 592 seats, and ActionSA with 5.67 % and 320 seats. Other parties and independent candidates together claimed 22.94 % of the vote.
All 213 municipal councils were declared and finalised; 74 councils were won outright by a single party, while 138 remain hung, meaning no party holds an absolute majority and coalition negotiations are inevitable. The ANC secured outright majorities in 53 municipalities and emerged as the leading party in 128. The DA won outright majorities in 12 councils and led in 32.
In the nation’s largest municipality, Johannesburg, the DA emerged as the largest party with 91 of the 270 seats, followed by the ANC with 63 seats and ActionSA with 43 seats. No party achieved the 136‑seat threshold required for an outright majority, underscoring the fragmented nature of the city’s political landscape.
The president’s remarks come at a time of increased voter turnout, with approximately 14.9 million voters casting ballots for a 52 % turnout, up 6.1 percentage points from the 2021 local government elections. He urged that “political positions must not undermine municipal stability,” a sentiment that echoes the need for functional local governance amid the country’s social and economic challenges.
Ramaphosa’s call for unity over power struggles signals a shift toward collaborative governance as council compositions across the country become more diverse. The Ministry of Cooperative Governance will need to facilitate coalition talks in the coming weeks, as parties across the political spectrum seek agreements to deliver essential services to South Africa’s communities.
As coalition negotiations begin, the focus will undoubtedly be on establishing governing agreements that address urgent municipal needs, while the national leadership maintains a keen interest in the outcomes that may influence the political balance of power at the local level.
