Blouberg ANC wins majority: 27 of 44 seats in Limpopo
Provisional IEC figures give the ANC 27 of 44 seats on the Blouberg council in Limpopo, a clear majority after all 22 wards finished counting. The EFF holds 6 seats and the SACP 4.
Provisional IEC figures now show the African National Congress with a majority on the Blouberg local council: 27 of 44 seats, after all 22 wards and 147 voting districts were declared in this Capricorn municipality in Limpopo (The Outlier, update 18:56 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Blouberg results from IEC data; Rateweb Blouberg results).
A party needs 23 seats for an outright majority on this 44-seat council. The ANC is four seats clear. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
Blouberg covers Senwabarwana (Bochum) and surrounding villages in northern Limpopo. ESP puts the ANC ward ballot share at about 60.5%, down about 11 percentage points from about 71.5% in 2021 for this municipality (ESP Blouberg). Rateweb lists the ANC on 61.0% of the vote with the count complete (Rateweb). In 2021 the ANC held 33 of 44 seats on the same-sized council (Inkmark 2021 seat summary).
What is the Blouberg seat split?
| Party | Ward | PR | Total seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| African National Congress (ANC) | 22 | 5 | 27 |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| South African Communist Party (SACP) | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Freedom Front Plus | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Build One South Africa (BOSA) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Afrika Mayibuye Movement | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 44 | ||
| Seats needed for a majority | 23 |
Source: ESP Blouberg seat table (IEC data). The Outlier shows the same ANC 27 lead, with EFF 6, SACP 4, DA 3, Mayibuye 1 and three other seats. Rateweb lists the ANC on 61.0% of the vote with the count complete.
How did the wards and votes fall?
ESP's reading of IEC ward results shows the ANC won all 22 wards. Every other seat on the council comes from the proportional-representation (PR) list (ESP Blouberg).
On the ward ballot, ESP lists the EFF second on about 12.3%, ahead of the SACP on about 8.2% and the DA on about 5.5% (ESP). Rateweb's council tally matches those leading parties once PR seats are allocated (Rateweb).
Turnout on the PR ballot is about 46.4% of the roughly 95 700 voters on the roll (ESP). The IEC publishes about 46.7% for this municipality.
How do these numbers compare with 2021?
| Measure | 2021 | 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|
| ANC seats | 33 of 44 | 27 of 44 |
| Seats needed for majority | 23 | 23 |
| ANC ward ballot share (ESP) | about 71.5% | about 60.5% |
| Second seat holder | EFF (7 seats) | EFF (6 seats) |
Sources: Inkmark 2021; ESP 2026 vs 2021; The Outlier.
The ANC still governs alone here, but it holds six fewer seats than in 2021 and its ward share is sharply lower. The SACP's four PR seats, plus first-time PR seats for BOSA, MK and Mayibuye, reshape the opposition bench.
What happens next for the mayor and services?
Because one party has more than half the seats, it can elect the speaker and mayor without needing a coalition partner once the IEC declares the result. Under the Municipal Structures Act, the new council must hold its first meeting within 14 days of the results being gazetted and then elect its office-bearers (Municipal Structures Act on SAFLII; our hung-council mayor timeline guide covers the same 14-day clock).
Council control decides the budget for water, roads, refuse, electricity distribution where the municipality is the licensed distributor, and housing waiting lists. Residents should still treat today's seat numbers as provisional until the IEC declaration, which is due by about 11 November 2026 in the ordinary course (IEC results dashboard).
Where can I check my own ward?
Use the IEC live results dashboard, pick Blouberg (LIM351), then your ward number. ESP and The Outlier republish the same IEC figures with seat bars as the count finishes.
We will update this page if the IEC changes the Blouberg seat allocation before final declaration.
FAQ
Did the ANC win Blouberg outright?
Yes, on provisional IEC figures the ANC has 27 of 44 seats. A party needs 23 seats for a majority on this council. Treat the result as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
How many seats did other parties win in Blouberg?
The EFF won 6 PR seats, the SACP 4 and the DA 3. Freedom Front Plus, BOSA, MK and Afrika Mayibuye Movement each won 1 PR seat. The ANC won all 22 wards.
What happens next after a majority win?
The ANC can elect a mayor and pass council resolutions without a coalition partner. The new council must still be constituted under the Municipal Structures Act, and residents should confirm final seats on the IEC dashboard.