DA Leads Tshwane as ActionSA Holds Clear Second Place and ANC Drops to Third

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken the lead in the 2026 local government elections in the City of Tshwane, according to the latest provisional results released as vote counting approaches completion.

With 91% of the votes counted, the DA was leading with 34.31%, followed by ActionSA with 22.36%. The African National Congress (ANC) was in third position with 20.18%, indicating a significant change in the political balance within Gauteng’s capital metropolitan municipality.

ActionSA has delivered a strong performance, managing to move ahead of the ANC and establish itself as the second-largest party in the metro. The development is particularly notable given the competition between the two parties for influence in Tshwane.

Other political organisations have also recorded varying levels of support. The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) was polling at 7.62%, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had secured 5.81%. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) was further behind with 2% of the votes counted so far.

The current figures suggest that none of the leading political parties is likely to secure an outright majority in the municipality. A party needs more than half of the available council seats to govern independently, meaning coalition negotiations are expected once the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) completes the counting process and confirms the final seat allocation.

The competition for second place has been one of the interesting developments in the Tshwane election. Earlier figures showed a closer contest between ActionSA and the ANC, but as additional voting districts were processed, ActionSA strengthened its position and moved ahead of the governing party.

The DA, meanwhile, has maintained its lead as more results have been captured. The ANC’s current performance also points to a decline in its support compared with previous local government elections in the municipality.

Tshwane is one of South Africa’s most important metropolitan municipalities, covering Pretoria and several surrounding communities. The political leadership of the city plays a major role in decisions affecting electricity, water supply, housing, road infrastructure, employment opportunities and other essential services.

The election results suggest that many voters are looking for changes in how the municipality is managed. ActionSA’s strong showing could also strengthen its position during coalition discussions, particularly if its support translates into a significant number of council seats.

With the final results expected soon, political parties are already preparing for the possibility of negotiations to establish the next municipal administration. The outcome of these discussions will determine which organisations work together to govern Tshwane and how leadership responsibilities will be shared.

Although the DA is currently in front, its ability to govern will depend on the final council seat distribution and the agreements it can reach with other parties.

For residents, the most important issue will be whether the incoming administration can address the city’s longstanding challenges and improve service delivery. The coming days are expected to be crucial in determining the political future of Tshwane.

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