ANC’s Disappointment Looms as Local Election Results Cast Doubt on Future Strategy

The African National Congress (ANC) is planning to carry out a thorough review of its performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections in the Western Cape following the completion of the final verification of election results by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

On Saturday, November 8, Western Cape electoral officer Michael Hendrickse announced that the process of capturing and checking all votes cast in the province had been completed.

The exercise involved examining election documents, verifying ballot papers and conducting recounts where necessary before confirming the final results.

The ANC’s planned review comes after reports showed that the party had lost five percentage points in voter support across several municipalities in the Western Cape. The party is expected to investigate the reasons behind the decline and identify areas where improvements are needed ahead of future elections.

The outcome highlights the political difficulties facing the ANC in a province where it has previously maintained significant support in some communities. The review is expected to examine the party’s campaign methods, its communication with voters and its overall political strategy in the region.

Although the IEC has completed the verification process, the ANC still faces the task of understanding why some voters decided to withdraw their support and consider other political parties.

The planned assessment comes at a time when South Africa is also dealing with other important political and institutional matters. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is continuing its investigation into allegations involving former Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso and other individuals facing charges alongside him.

At the same time, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is investigating alleged links between some law enforcement officials and criminal networks, bringing renewed attention to accountability within the country’s policing system.

The Western Cape is also dealing with environmental concerns, as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued warnings about extremely hot and uncomfortable weather conditions in parts of the province.

Although these developments are separate from the local government elections, they form part of the wider issues affecting the province and the country.

For the ANC, the planned review will provide an opportunity to identify its weaknesses, reconsider its political approach and find ways to regain the confidence of voters in the Western Cape.

The main challenge for the party will be ensuring that the findings of the assessment lead to practical changes that can improve its performance and help rebuild its support in future elections.

https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/11/08/lge-2026-anc-to-review-western-cape-election-performance-after-results-are-finalised

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