Tshwane is gone: Devastating election numbers confirm the bitter end of ANC dominance in the metro

Early tracking and survey data indicate that the Democratic Alliance (DA) holds a narrow lead in voter preference within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality at 33.9%, while the African National Congress (ANC) follows closely in second place at 24.9%.

The preliminary metrics underscore the intense battle for governance in South Africa’s capital metro heading into the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections. Tshwane has been a key political battleground since 2016, defined by hyper-competitive electoral dynamics, shifting coalition governments, and persistent legislative deadlocks.

The DA’s edge at 33.9% highlights its strong retention across core suburban strongholds and traditional voting wards in Centurion and eastern Pretoria. However, the projected margin remains well below the 50% plus one seat threshold required for an outright governance majority. party strategists note that the lead reflects positive public sentiment toward multi-party oversight and municipal service delivery reforms, though turnout across key wards remains the primary variable for securing executive power.

Conversely, the ANC’s trailing support at 24.9% reflects ongoing voter dissatisfaction over historic municipal administrative challenges, service delivery backlogs, and recent coalition realignments within the metro council. Despite these hurdles, the governing party retains deep structural support across dense urban townships including Mamelodi, Soshanguve, Atteridgeville, and Hammanskraal, where mobilization efforts in the final pre-election hours aim to narrow the gap.

The remaining share of voter preferences in Tshwane is split among smaller key players, including ActionSA, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus). Political analysts note that with neither major party nearing an absolute majority, the City of Tshwane is once again positioned for complex post-election coalition negotiations to determine the executive mayor, mayoral committee, and municipal administration following Wednesday’s vote.

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