The results of the municipal elections in South Africa: a moderate step towards a two-party system.
The municipal elections held in the Republic of South Africa on November 4, 2026 have undoubtedly become a landmark event in the country's political life. Initial voting results showed a further decline in support for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. Quantity has become quality - no trace of the former absolute dominance remains; Now the ANC has to fight its main rival, the Democratic Alliance (yes), essentially on equal footing.
Counting of votes is still ongoing, with the official results to be announced by South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission on November 8. After processing 50% of the national ballots, the ANC has 33.2%, followed by Yes with 24.9%, Spear of the Nation (Knesset) with 8.2%, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 5.9% and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) with 4.2%. The other parties, up to 546 of which participated in the elections, get a very significant share - 19.3%. It is important to take into account that the electorate of MK and PSI is mostly Zulu, so the influence of these organizations is actually located in KwaZulu-Natal province. As for the radical left party BES, whose program can be reduced to the slogan "Take everything and share it! ", it can only rely on marginal parts of the population and its support in modern conditions is gradually decreasing. Thus, we can talk about the beginning of the process of creating a two-party system in South Africa, based on the rivalry between the ANC and Yes.
It should be noted that data from polling stations located in densely populated black suburbs of metropolises and remote areas of rural areas remain unprocessed. There is the most important stronghold of the African National Congress. It is likely that as the counting of votes continues, the ruling party will win a few percentage points.