They abandoned us – Mokonyane admits painful reason why loyal ANC supporters stayed home

ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane says low voter turnout in the party’s traditional strongholds has been its biggest challenge in the 2026 local government elections, as results continue to come in. Her assessment comes while counting is still under way, and it points to a concern that goes beyond individual wards: the party’s own supporters did not turn out in the numbers needed to protect its traditional base.

Turnout is a critical factor in South African local elections because the ANC has historically relied on large, loyal voting blocs in townships and rural areas, particularly in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. When those voters stay at home, the party’s share of the vote can fall sharply even where its brand remains strong. A ward that the ANC has held since 1996 can change hands on a relatively small swing in participation, which is why low turnout in such areas is often as decisive as a shift in voter preference.

The concern has been amplified by the fragmented contest this year. Several parties are competing for the same communities, and the results reports coming from across the country show gains for opposition parties in a number of wards. Where voters have been dissatisfied with service delivery, including water supply, sanitation and road maintenance, some have opted for alternatives or chosen not to vote at all. Mokonyane’s comments suggest the ANC is reading the low turnout as a signal that its message and organisation did not reach enough of its own supporters.

The implications extend beyond the count itself. Municipalities are often governed by coalitions where no party wins an outright majority, so every ward matters when it comes to determining who controls a council and who becomes mayor. A party that loses a handful of wards in key municipalities may find itself negotiating from a weaker position, or excluded from power altogether. For the ANC, which is already navigating coalition talks and internal debates about candidate selection, weaker turnout in its strongholds could make those negotiations more difficult.

Low turnout also raises questions for the broader democratic process. Voter participation in South Africa has been declining in recent electoral cycles, and analysts often point to frustration with governance, unemployment and a sense that elected representatives are not responsive. When people feel their vote will not change conditions in their area, they may stay away. For parties, the lesson is that mobilisation has to be sustained between elections, not only in the final weeks of a campaign.

For residents, the question now is what happens after the results are finalised. Councillors who are elected will be expected to address the issues that drove voters to the polls, or to stay away, in the first place. Whether the ANC uses its reflections on turnout to change its approach, and whether other parties can convert voter discontent into lasting support, will be closely watched in the months ahead. Readers who want to track the final outcomes in their own municipality can follow updates from the Independent Electoral Commission as counting concludes.

Esosa224 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com