Government7 November 2026

eThekwini hung: MK on track for 89 seats, 23 short of majority

With about 89% counted, eThekwini is heading for a hung council. Rateweb's IEC tracker projects MK 89, DA 55 and ANC 37 of 223 seats. Majority needs 112.

By Reported Team

South African local government election ward and party ballot papers — Photo: Discott via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

eThekwini is heading for a hung metro. With about 89% of voting districts counted on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Rateweb's IEC tracker projects the MK Party at 89 of 223 seats, the DA at 55, and the ANC at 37. A party needs 112 seats to govern eThekwini alone.

That leaves MK about 23 seats short of a majority on current numbers. These figures are provisional. The IEC allocates proportional representation (PR) seats only when a council reaches 100%, and official final results are due on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (around 17:30 to 18:00, as previously reported from IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya).

What are the projected eThekwini seats?

Party	Vote share	Projected seats
MK Party	39.8%	89
DA	24.5%	55
ANC	16.7%	37
IFP	6.6%	15
ActionSA	2.9%	7
EFF	1.7%	4
VF Plus	0.8%	2
ATM	0.8%	2

Source: Rateweb eThekwini results (IEC data, about 89% of voting districts counted). Smaller parties are projected one seat each on the same tracker. MzansiData showed the same top-line shares (MK 39.8%, DA 24.5%, ANC 16.7%, IFP 6.6%) at about 89.5% counted around midday.

How does that compare with 2021?

The ANC's share has fallen sharply from about 42.1% in 2021 to about 16.7% so far. The DA is roughly flat (about 25.9% in 2021 vs 24.5% now). The EFF has dropped from about 10.5% to about 1.7%. The MK Party did not contest eThekwini in 2021 and now leads on about 39.8% (MzansiData).

How many ward seats does MK already have?

Ward seats are declared as each ward finishes. So far MK has 43 ward seats, the DA 13, and the IFP 2, with no ANC ward seats recorded yet on the Rateweb board and PR seats (half the 223-seat council) still to be allocated once counting hits 100% (Rateweb; The Witness, citing the IEC dashboard at about 11:48 SAST).

ESP's IEC-based map showed 751 of 839 voting districts in by about midday, with MK still leading the ward ballot (ESP).

Will the MK objection delay the final result?

MK has lodged a section 65 objection over the eThekwini count and asked for final results to be delayed. As of Saturday morning reporting, the IEC had not agreed to a delay, and the national final announcement remained scheduled for Sunday evening. See our earlier explainer: MK objects to eThekwini count: will Sunday's final results be delayed?.

What happens next for Durban residents?

Until the IEC declares the council at 100%, seat totals can still move. On current projections no party reaches 112 seats, so coalition or confidence-and-supply talks would decide who elects the mayor and runs the metro. The Municipal Structures Act gives a newly elected council 14 days after the IEC declares the result to elect a speaker, mayor and other office-bearers (covered in our hung-council timeline guide).

Follow live ward and council boards on the IEC results dashboard, Rateweb, MzansiData and ESP.

FAQ

Does any party have a majority in eThekwini yet?

Not on current projections. At about 89% counted, Rateweb's IEC-based tracker gives the MK Party 89 of 223 seats (112 needed). The council is projected hung until the IEC confirms seats at 100% and declares final results on Sunday, 8 November.

How many seats do the DA and ANC get on current numbers?

The DA is projected at 55 seats (24.5% of the vote) and the ANC at 37 seats (16.7%), according to Rateweb's eThekwini tracker.

When will the IEC announce final 2026 local election results?

Sunday evening, 8 November 2026 (around 17:30 to 18:00), according to earlier reporting quoting IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya. MK has objected to the eThekwini count; the IEC had not announced a delay as of Saturday morning coverage.

How many ward seats has MK already won in eThekwini?

The IEC dashboard, as reported by Rateweb and The Witness around midday on 7 November, showed MK with 43 ward seats so far, the DA with 13 and the IFP with 2. PR seats are allocated only when counting reaches 100%.