SA Local Government Elections 2026: Who Is Leading in All 8 Metro Municipalities

South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections are beginning to reshape the country’s political landscape, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) taking the lead in five of the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, according to provisional Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) results.

The results have attracted attention as South Africans watch closely to see which political parties will take control of the municipalities responsible for delivering essential services to millions of residents.

One of the biggest developments is the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MK Party) performance in eThekwini, where it has overtaken the African National Congress (ANC) to become the leading party. However, the party has not secured enough support to govern the metro without coalition partners.

The ANC has also experienced setbacks in Buffalo City and Mangaung. Although it remains the leading party in both municipalities, it has lost its outright majority, potentially opening the door to coalition negotiations.

Based on the provisional IEC results, the political picture across the country’s eight metros is as follows:

Johannesburg: The DA is leading, with the ANC and ActionSA also recording significant support.

Tshwane: The DA is ahead, while the ANC and ActionSA remain among the major contenders.

Ekurhuleni: The DA has taken the lead, with the ANC and ActionSA also competing for support.

Cape Town: The DA maintains a strong lead in the municipality.

Nelson Mandela Bay: The DA is leading, although coalition negotiations could determine the eventual administration.

eThekwini: The MK Party has overtaken the ANC, marking a significant change in the municipality’s political landscape.

Buffalo City: The ANC remains the largest party but no longer has an outright majority.

Mangaung: The ANC is still leading but has fallen short of securing an outright majority.

The results have highlighted the changing political preferences of voters across several municipalities.

For the ANC, losing its outright majority in Buffalo City and Mangaung represents another challenge as it attempts to maintain its influence in local government.

The MK Party’s performance in eThekwini has also attracted attention, particularly because of the municipality’s historical association with ANC leadership.

Meanwhile, the DA’s lead in five metros places the party in a significant position as the counting process progresses.

However, leading the vote count does not automatically mean a party will govern a municipality.

Where no party secures more than 50% of the vote, political parties may have to negotiate coalition agreements to secure enough seats to form an administration.

These negotiations could determine who becomes mayor and which parties take responsibility for running some of the country’s biggest municipalities.

For ordinary residents, the political developments go beyond party competition. The next municipal administrations will be expected to address everyday concerns such as water shortages, electricity supply, road maintenance, sanitation and refuse collection.

As the IEC works towards finalising the results, South Africans will be watching to see how the changing political balance translates into leadership and service delivery.

https://briefly.co.za/south-africa/258193-sa-local-government-elections-2026-leading-8-metro-municipalities/

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