ANC Suffers Double Blow in Cape Town as DA Takes Lead in Nelson Mandela Bay and ANC Loses Majority

Early projections released by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) suggest that the African National Congress (ANC) is experiencing a significant decline in support in Buffalo City, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) is taking the lead in Nelson Mandela Bay.

In Buffalo City, where 28.2% of voting districts have been counted, the ANC is currently projected to receive 42.5% of the vote. This represents a major decline of almost 17 percentage points compared to its previous performance, putting the party below the 50% mark.

The DA is currently in second place with 19.8%, followed by the United Democratic Movement (UDM) at 9.9%. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have secured a projected 7.2%, while the South African Communist Party (SACP), which is contesting the metro for the first time, is sitting at 5%.

Meanwhile, in Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA is leading the race with 40.7% after 24.3% of voting districts were counted. The ANC is trailing behind with 28.9%, reflecting a decline of more than 10 percentage points.

The EFF currently has 5.3%, followed by the Patriotic Alliance (PA) with 4% and the UDM with 3.7%.

The figures are based on the CSIR’s election projection model and should not be mistaken for official results from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). With counting still underway, the numbers could change as additional voting districts are processed.

The early projections suggest a major political shift in the Eastern Cape’s two largest metropolitan municipalities. Although the ANC remains ahead in Buffalo City, it appears to have lost the outright majority it previously enjoyed.

In Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA is currently positioned to emerge as the biggest party, potentially placing it in a strong position to influence the formation of the next municipal government.

The 2026 local government election results are still being counted nationwide, with political parties closely monitoring the remaining votes.

Source: https://x.com/News24/status/2118251164193976511?a=OM0onlujwjcsMpnXYTg&s=19

Ayo1965 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com