Bethlehem is hung: ANC two seats short in Dihlabeng's 38-seat council
Dihlabeng (Bethlehem) has a hung council. The ANC won 18 of 38 seats, down from 23 of 40 in 2021, and needs 20 to govern. The DA has 12. Full seat and vote tables.
Dihlabeng, the Free State municipality that includes Bethlehem, Clarens, Fouriesburg, Paul Roux and Rosendal, has a hung council. With all 79 voting districts counted, the ANC has 18 of the 38 seats, two short of the 20 needed to govern alone (ESP; The People's Register).
The ANC still won 16 of the 19 wards and 44.1% of the ward vote. The DA came second on 27.5% (ESP).
Who won how many seats?
| Party | Ward seats | PR seats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANC | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| DA | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Freedom Front Plus | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| EFF | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| SACP | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Patriotic Alliance | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ActionSA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Batho Movement | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: ESP, matching the IEC allocation on The People's Register (dated 8 November 2026 at 15:41 SAST) and Counted.
In 2021 the council had 40 seats and the ANC won 23, a clear majority. The DA had 7 and the EFF 4 (Counted 2021). The council now has 38 seats.
Turnout was 54.0% of 77,595 registered voters (ESP).
How did the ward vote split?
| Party | Ward votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 18,241 | 44.1% |
| DA | 11,364 | 27.5% |
| Independent candidates | 2,542 | 6.2% |
| Freedom Front Plus | 2,025 | 4.9% |
| EFF | 1,994 | 4.8% |
| MK Party | 1,165 | 2.8% |
Source: ESP, using IEC data. The ANC's ward share fell from 55.3% in 2021. Independent candidates took 6.2% of the ward vote but won no seats, because independents can only win wards, not PR seats.
What would it take to reach 20 seats?
This is seat arithmetic, not a prediction. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
| Combination | Seats |
|---|---|
| ANC + DA | 30 |
| ANC + EFF | 20 |
| ANC + Freedom Front Plus | 20 |
| ANC + any two one-seat parties | 20 |
| Every party except the ANC together | 20 |
Source: seat totals from ESP.
The ANC needs only one two-seat partner or two one-seat parties. The only way to keep the ANC out is for all seven other parties, from the DA and Freedom Front Plus to the EFF and SACP, to vote together.
When will Dihlabeng get a mayor?
The IEC planned to announce the final national results on Sunday, 8 November, at 18:00 (eNCA). After a council's result is declared, the Municipal Structures Act gives 14 days for the first council meeting, where councillors elect the speaker and the mayor (Municipal Structures Act).
The seat figures are the IEC's provisional allocation and can change until the result is formally declared. You can check them on the IEC results dashboard.
FAQ
Is Dihlabeng a hung council after the 2026 election?
Yes. With all 79 voting districts counted, the ANC has 18 of 38 seats. A party needs 20 to govern alone. The figures are provisional until the IEC formally declares the result.
How many seats did each party win in Dihlabeng?
ANC 18, DA 12, Freedom Front Plus 2, EFF 2, and one each for the SACP, Patriotic Alliance, ActionSA and Batho Movement.
Which parties could form a majority in Dihlabeng?
The ANC reaches 20 with the EFF, the Freedom Front Plus, or any two one-seat parties. All seven other parties together also make exactly 20. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
When will Dihlabeng elect a mayor?
After the result is declared, the first council meeting must be held within 14 days. Councillors elect the speaker and mayor at that meeting.