South Africa's municipal elections held on Wednesday are being viewed as a reckoning for the African National Congress (ANC), the party that led the country out of white minority rule. While early results from Thursday indicate the ANC is still leading, the party appears to have hemorrhaged support and is facing a sharply reduced share of the vote.
Voters have expressed deep discontent over crumbling infrastructure, including potholed roads, as well as frequent water outages and power cuts. Growing frustration is also driven by failing public services, high crime rates, and corruption.
Polls suggest the ANC could fall below 40 percent, with some estimates expecting the party to receive less than a third of the vote. This marks a significant decline from 45.6 percent in the 2021 municipal elections and 40.2 percent in the 2024 national elections. As the party tumbles deeper into minority status, political power is expected to become increasingly fragmented among smaller parties.