DA Metro Support Since 2016: Who Gained and Who Lost in the 2026 Local Elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results for the 2026 local government elections show mixed fortunes for the Democratic Alliance (DA) across South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities. A new SABC News graphic tracking the party’s support from 2016 through 2021 to the latest vote reveals clear patterns of recovery in some cities, stability in others, and steady decline in a few.

In the City of Johannesburg, the DA’s share dropped from around 32 percent in 2016 to roughly 22 percent in 2021 before climbing back to about 29 percent this year. A similar recovery played out in the City of Tshwane, where support fell from approximately 35 percent in 2016 to 26 percent in 2021 and then rose to nearly 29 percent in 2026. Ekurhuleni followed the same path, moving from roughly 28 percent in 2016, down to 22 percent five years later, and recovering to about 26 percent in the latest election.

Mangaung recorded one of the stronger upward trends. The DA’s support stayed near 20 percent in both 2016 and 2021 before jumping to around 28 percent in 2026. Nelson Mandela Bay also showed improvement after a dip, moving from about 40 percent in 2016 to 32 percent in 2021 and then back up to roughly 36 percent this year.

Not every metro followed the recovery story. In Cape Town, the DA’s long-standing stronghold, support eased from around 58 percent in 2016 to 52 percent in 2021 and then to about 50 percent in 2026. eThekwini remained relatively flat, hovering between 20 and 22 percent across all three elections. Buffalo City saw the clearest downward trend, sliding from roughly 18 percent in 2016 to 12 percent in 2021 and further to around 10 percent in 2026.

These shifts come as South African voters continue to judge parties on service delivery, crime, and local governance after years of coalition politics in several metros. While the DA remains a major player in the big cities, the 2026 numbers show that its support is no longer guaranteed to move in one direction. Gains in places like Mangaung and recoveries in Johannesburg and Tshwane contrast with the gradual softening in Cape Town and the ongoing slide in Buffalo City. The full picture of who will govern these metros will depend on how parties negotiate coalitions once the final seat calculations are complete.

Source: https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2119449758376878589?a=RTWS8QQmPS9VIVWZzVo&s=19