ANC Demands Recount After MK Party Defeat as Gwede Mantashe Breaks Silence on Election Losses

The African National Congress has taken its challenge over an election result in Pietermaritzburg to court after the uMkhonto weSizwe Party secured victory at a voting station in Ward 35, Sobantu. The dispute centres on the count at Anton Mfenendala Xaba Hall and the ANC’s demand that ballots be recounted.

The challenge has drawn attention because ANC representatives reportedly signed the results slip before requesting a recount. Footage from the station showed election officials counting ballots as party agents watched. The ANC has since pursued the matter through legal channels, although the available information does not detail the specific grounds contained in its court application.

A recount would allow the Electoral Commission of South Africa to check the recorded figures against the ballots cast. Such a process is a verification measure, not proof that misconduct or an error occurred. The commission is responsible for administering the election and dealing with disputes in accordance with electoral procedures.

The Ward 35 contest is taking place against a difficult provincial backdrop for the ANC. Results from the 2026 local government elections have indicated losses for the governing party in a number of municipalities, while the MK Party and other opposition groups have made gains. Final results will determine how municipal councils are composed and whether parties can govern or must negotiate coalitions.

ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has acknowledged voters’ power to change their political allegiance. He said South Africans were free to withdraw support from a party they had previously chosen, adding that the ANC had given them that freedom and did not regret it.

The election outcome has also renewed focus on local concerns, including unemployment, unreliable water and electricity supplies, deteriorating infrastructure, service delivery and municipal administration. These issues may influence voting patterns, although the reasons behind each person’s choice cannot be assumed.

The commission’s decision on the recount request and the court process will determine what happens next in Ward 35. Whatever the outcome, the dispute comes as the ANC faces pressure to examine its performance, address community concerns and regain public confidence ahead of future electoral contests.

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