Bushbuckridge ANC wins majority: 50 of 79 seats after 2026 vote
Provisional IEC tallies give the ANC 50 of 79 seats on the Bushbuckridge council, an outright majority. The SACP is second on 8 seats after contesting alone, with the EFF on 7.
Provisional IEC figures now show the African National Congress with a majority on the Bushbuckridge local council: 50 of 79 seats, after all 40 wards and 280 voting districts were declared in this Ehlanzeni municipality in Mpumalanga (The Outlier, update 17:27 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Bushbuckridge results from IEC data; Rateweb Bushbuckridge results).
A party needs 40 seats for an outright majority on this 79-seat council. The ANC is ten seats clear. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
In 2021 the ANC already held a majority, with 53 of 76 seats on the then smaller council (Inkmark 2021 seat summary). The 2026 council grew to 79 seats. On ward votes, ESP puts the ANC on about 63.3%, close to its 63.3% ward share in 2021 for the same municipality (ESP Bushbuckridge).
What is the Bushbuckridge seat split?
| Party | Ward | PR | Total seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| African National Congress (ANC) | 40 | 10 | 50 |
| South African Communist Party (SACP) | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| African People's Convention (APC) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Better Residents Association (BRA) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Democratic Community Movement (DCM) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ActionSA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| African Unified Movement (AUM) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| United Africans Transformation (UAT) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Delivery Party (SDP) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Afrika Mayibuye Movement | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 79 | ||
| Seats needed for a majority | 40 |
Source: ESP Bushbuckridge seat table (IEC data). The Outlier shows the same ANC 50, SACP 8, EFF 7 and DA 5 lead, with ActionSA and eight other one-seat parties filling the rest. Rateweb lists the ANC on 63.5% of the vote with the count complete.
How did the wards and votes fall?
On ESP's reading of IEC ward results, the ANC won all 40 wards. Turnout on the PR ballot is about 48.9% of the 293 000 voters on the roll there.
The SACP contested separately from the ANC and finished second on seats with 8 PR seats and about 10.5% of the vote (Rateweb, ESP). The EFF is third on 7 PR seats. No opposition party won a ward seat.
Lowvelder / The Citizen earlier on Friday reported the ANC leading strongly in Bushbuckridge while counting across Ehlanzeni continued, with the provincial IEC saying Mpumalanga was on track to finish verification.
What happens next for the council and mayor?
Once the IEC declares the result, councillors must elect a mayor, speaker and other office-bearers. Under the Municipal Structures Act, the first council meeting after the election results are declared must elect a speaker, and the council elects an executive mayor where that system applies (Municipal Structures Act on SAFLII). Practically, parties and coalitions often aim to settle the mayoral vote within about 14 days of the declared result. With an outright ANC majority, the party can elect those office-bearers without a coalition partner, subject to its own caucus decisions and any floor-crossing or vacancy rules later.
How can you check the official figures?
Figures on this page are provisional until the IEC's formal declaration. Official national results announcements are still scheduled through about 11 November 2026.
FAQ
Did the ANC win a majority in Bushbuckridge?
On provisional IEC-based tallies with the count complete, yes. The Outlier, ESP and Rateweb show the ANC on 50 of 79 seats. A majority needs 40 seats.
Who came second in Bushbuckridge?
The South African Communist Party, contesting separately, has 8 proportional seats on provisional tallies. The EFF has 7 seats. The DA has 5.
Was Bushbuckridge hung in 2021?
No. Inkmark records an ANC majority of 53 of 76 seats after the 2021 local election. The 2026 council has 79 seats.