ANC dealt knockout blow in MP after losing several councils

With 100% of the votes captured in Mpumalanga, the ANC has suffered heavy losses in several of the province’s councils.

In the mining town of eMalahleni, the ANC’s winning percentage dropped by 20 percentage points, from 51% in 2021 to 31% this week.

The area is grappling with severe job losses due to, amongst other things, decarbonisation. In contrast to the ANC in eMalahleni, the DA jumped from 18% in 2021 to 23%. The party also overtook the EFF to finish second in the council, with the MK Party third with 14%.

In the City of Mbombela, the ANC suffered another big blow. Five years ago, the party controlled the capital with 65% of the vote, but the municipality was declared a hung council, with the ANC securing only 48%. The DA received 15%.

The Nkomazi municipality has also experienced service delivery issues, as well as attacks on councillors. This includes the killing of the ANC’s Thabo Ngwenya in April 2024. Although the party secured an outright majority with 54% of the vote, their support dropped by 19 percentage points from 73% in 2021.

X | LGE 2026 | Results analysis from Mpumalanga | LGE 2026 | Results analysis from Mpumalanga

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— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 6, 2026