Was It an Inside Job? Mabuyane Claims ANC’s Metro Defeat Was Orchestrated by Sponsored Enemies

Eastern Cape Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane says his party’s poor showing in the 2026 local government elections was the result of a sponsored regime change campaign. He made the claim at the electoral results centre, where official vote counts show major losses for the ruling party in urban hubs and in municipal councils it used to control comfortably.

Mabuyane argued that outside political forces had coordinated a targeted push to remove the ANC from key metro areas, and that the party was fighting a structured tide designed to push it out of local government. The ANC has faced heavy criticism over service delivery failures, high unemployment, municipal corruption allegations and internal discipline problems, and those issues are part of the debate now.

The results point to a bigger shift in South Africa’s political map. The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA gained ground in several municipalities, while the uMkhonto weSizwe Party made inroads into areas that have traditionally backed the ANC. In the Eastern Cape, several councils ended up hung, meaning no single party won an outright majority. That has forced local governments into coalition talks that could take time to resolve.

Mabuyane’s comments are likely to spark more debate inside the ANC about why the party is losing support. Political analysts and some internal critics say the focus should be on the party’s own weaknesses, including governance lapses and falling voter trust, rather than on outside plots. As coalition negotiations get under way, the leadership faces pressure to show voters it can fix core problems and win back lost ground before the next election.

So tell us in the comments. Do you think the ANC’s losses come mainly from outside political pressure, or from problems the party created for itself?

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