Parties gearing up for 2026

Analyst expects more hung councils and coalitions.

- Molefe Seeletsa

BALANCE: ANC FACES TASK OF REBUILDING SUPPORT AHEAD OF LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS.

If one examines South Africa's evolving political landscape since the 2024 general election, it is clear that political parties are already gearing up for the 2026 local government elections.

The country is about two years away from these pivotal municipal elections, likely to take place between 2 November 2026 and 28 February 2027.

This comes in the wake of a historic national and provincial election last year, when the ANC fell below the 50% threshold needed to form a government for the first time since 1994, securing just 40.2% of the vote.

The ANC now faces the challenge of rebuilding its support base and regaining ground at the local level in 2026.

Since the 2021 local government elections, the ANC has lost control of several municipalities, leaving many councils hung and reliant on coalitions for governance.

The rise of hung councils across all 257 municipalities has been significant, increasing from 29 in 2000 to 82 in 2021.

A hung council occurs when no single party secures a majority, making coalitions a necessity.

As the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) shifts its focus toward preparing for the 2026 local elections, political parties will need to solidify their strategies and engage voters on a local level.