Ramaphosa Unfazed as Pollsters Put DA Ahead of ANC in Six Metros

African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa says his party remains confident ahead of South Africa’s Local Government Elections, despite predictions that its support could fall below 46% and polling reports placing the Democratic Alliance (DA) ahead in at least six metropolitan areas.

The predictions have put the ANC’s electoral prospects under renewed scrutiny as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the November 4, 2026, municipal elections.

According to EWN on Monday, October 26, 2026, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the ANC’s prospects during a campaign visit to Diepkloof in Soweto, where he engaged residents about local concerns and the party’s plans for Johannesburg.

The ANC president maintained that the party was aiming to regain its electoral majority in the City of Johannesburg, despite a decline in its support during previous municipal elections.

“We are going to get an outright majority in the metro. That is a given. It’s going to happen. We are confident of a victory. You wait and see. There are going to be a lot of celebrations after the 4th of November by the ANC,” Ramaphosa said, according to EWN.

His remarks came as polling projections pointed to continued competition between the ANC and opposition parties in several major urban centres.

The DA has been reported to be ahead of the ANC in at least six metros, a development that could affect the distribution of political power in local government if the polling trends are reflected in the final results.

However, the surveys represent estimates of voter intentions rather than confirmed election outcomes. The final results will depend on the votes cast on election day.

Johannesburg is one of the major battlegrounds in the upcoming elections. The ANC secured 62% of the vote in the city in 2006, but its support declined to 58% in 2011, 44% in 2016 and 33% in 2021, according to figures reported by EWN.

An election poll by the Social Research Foundation also suggested that the ANC’s support in Johannesburg could fall to 18%, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the party in the country’s economic centre.

During his Soweto campaign, Ramaphosa also encountered residents who raised concerns about water shortages, unemployment and crime. These issues remain among the concerns confronting the ANC as it seeks to persuade voters to support its candidates.

The election will test whether the governing party can retain sufficient support in major cities while opposition parties seek to expand their influence.

The contest also raises questions about the future of municipal governance, particularly in areas where no party secures an outright majority and coalition negotiations may determine who takes control.

With election day approaching, the competing claims and polling predictions have placed greater attention on the ANC’s ability to regain support and the DA’s prospects in key metropolitan areas.

Do you think the ANC can retain its support in South Africa’s major cities, or could the DA make further gains in the upcoming local elections? Share your views in the comment section.

Source: https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2114693027050455259

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