Ermelo, Balfour, Delmas hung: 6 Mpumalanga councils with no majority
Provisional IEC results show 6 fully counted Mpumalanga councils hung, including Ermelo, Balfour, Delmas and Lydenburg. Only Chief Albert Luthuli has a majority so far.
Six Mpumalanga councils have finished counting with no party holding more than half the seats, according to provisional IEC results. That includes Ermelo (Msukaligwa), Balfour (Dipaleseng), Delmas (Victor Khanye) and Lydenburg/Mashishing (Thaba Chweu). Across the province, 7 of 17 councils are fully counted: 1 with a majority and 6 hung (Rateweb from IEC data, update 6 November 2026).
Nationally, about 71% of voting districts were counted by Friday morning, with 77 of 110 finished councils hung (Rateweb from IEC data).
Which Mpumalanga councils are hung?
| Council | Main town | Largest party | Seats won | Council seats | Needed for majority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Msukaligwa | Ermelo | ANC | 14 | 38 | 20 |
| Thaba Chweu | Lydenburg / Mashishing | ANC | 12 | 27 | 14 |
| Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme | Volksrust | ANC | 9 | 21 | 11 |
| Emakhazeni | Belfast / eMakhazeni | ANC | 7 | 15 | 8 |
| Victor Khanye | Delmas | SDP | 7 | 17 | 9 |
| Dipaleseng | Balfour | ANC | 6 | 12 | 7 |
Source: Rateweb Mpumalanga results from IEC data. Majority means more than half the council's seats. All figures are provisional until the IEC declares them.
Victor Khanye stands out: the Service Delivery Party (SDP) is the largest party on 39.5% of the vote and 7 of 17 seats, short of the 9 needed to govern alone (Rateweb from IEC data).
Where did a party win outright so far?
Chief Albert Luthuli (Carolina area) is the only fully counted Mpumalanga council with a majority so far. The ANC has 26 of 49 seats on 51.8% of the vote (Rateweb from IEC data).
Larger centres are still counting, including Mbombela (88% counted, ANC leading), Emalahleni/Witbank, Govan Mbeki/Secunda, Steve Tshwete/Middelburg and Bushbuckridge.
What does the provincial picture look like?
With about 80% of Mpumalanga voting districts counted, the ANC leads on roughly 45% of the vote, ahead of the DA on about 13% to 14% and the MK Party and EFF around 10% each (Rateweb from IEC data). Those shares can still shift as the remaining districts come in.
What happens next in a hung council?
Parties must agree on a coalition or minority arrangement. The new council must hold its first meeting within 14 days of the results being declared, where it elects the mayor and speaker. See Reported's hung council explainer. The IEC expects to announce final national results around 11 November.
Where can you check your ward?
Use the IEC results dashboard for municipality and ward results, or Rateweb's Mpumalanga page for a live council-by-council view.
FAQ
Is Msukaligwa (Ermelo) hung after the 2026 election?
Yes, provisionally. The ANC won 14 of 38 seats, short of the 20 needed for a majority.
Which Mpumalanga council has a majority so far?
Of the 7 fully counted councils, only Chief Albert Luthuli has a majority. The ANC has 26 of 49 seats.
When must a hung council elect a mayor?
The new council must hold its first meeting, where the mayor is elected, within 14 days of the results being declared.