South Africa's ANC suffers worst election result as decline continues
South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) is facing its worst election results in history, reflecting a significant decline in voter support. The party is being penalized by the electorate for failing to provide essential services like water and electricity.
Why it matters
The potential loss of dominance for the ANC marks a historic shift in South African politics, signaling a move away from the post-apartheid political status quo.
Cape Town South Africa's African National Congress party faced its worst election results ever on Sunday (November 8, 2026) and a new low point on its gradual decline in popularity as voters rebuked it for a failure to deliver basic services like water and electricity in towns and cities. The once-dominant ANC — the party of Nelson Mandela — had received around 30% of the vote in Wednesday's (November 4, 2026) local government elections with 99% of ballots counted. The final results were expected late on Sunday (November 8, 2026), according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
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