Greater Giyani ANC wins majority: Mayibuye second with 12 seats

Provisional IEC figures now show the African National Congress with a majority on the Greater Giyani local council: 39 of 62 seats, after all 31 wards and 132 voting districts were declared in this Mopani municipality in Limpopo (The Outlier, update 18:10 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Greater Giyani results from IEC data; Rateweb Greater Giyani results).

A party needs 32 seats for an outright majority on this 62-seat council. The ANC is seven seats clear. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.

Afrika Mayibuye Movement, contesting here for the first time, is the clear second party with 12 seats and about 18.6% of the vote (Rateweb; SABC Elections). In 2021 the ANC held 47 of 62 seats on the same-sized council (Inkmark 2021 seat summary). ESP puts the ANC ward ballot share at about 60.9%, down from about 72.7% in 2021 for this municipality (ESP Greater Giyani).

What is the Greater Giyani seat split?

Source: ESP seat allocation from IEC data and The Outlier. Figures can still move slightly until the IEC's formal declaration.

Who came second in Greater Giyani?

Mayibuye took all 12 of its seats from the proportional-representation (PR) ballot and won no wards. That matches the pattern in nearby Collins Chabane, where Mayibuye also finished second on PR seats while the ANC kept every ward it won (SABC Elections on Mayibuye in Limpopo; REPORTED: Collins Chabane results).

The EFF is third with 4 seats. Smaller parties each hold one seat. Turnout on the PR ballot is about 51.1% of the roughly 148 000 voters on the roll (ESP).

What does an ANC majority mean for residents?

With 39 seats, the ANC can elect a mayor and pass a budget without needing a coalition partner on this council. That is different from the many hung councils elsewhere in the country, where no party reached half the seats (Municipal Structures Act on SAFLII; REPORTED: hung councils explainer).

A majority does not freeze rates, water or electricity policy overnight. The new council still has to appoint a mayor and committees, and day-to-day service decisions follow the municipal budget and by-laws. Residents who want the official seat arithmetic should use the IEC results dashboard or the IEC mobile app.

How do these numbers compare with 2021?

Sources: Inkmark 2021; ESP 2026 vs 2021; The Outlier.

The ANC still governs alone here, but it holds eight fewer seats than in 2021 and its ward share is down by nearly 12 percentage points. Mayibuye's debut as official opposition is the main new feature of this council.

When are results final, and where can I check my ward?

The IEC publishes voting-district results as they are verified, then declares each council once its count is complete. Final national certification is due by about 11 November 2026 (IEC results home; REPORTED: when results are announced).

To check a specific Greater Giyani ward:

1. Open the IEC results dashboard.
2. Or use ESP's Greater Giyani page, which mirrors IEC files ward by ward.
3. Or follow live seat tallies on The Outlier and Rateweb.

If a party objects to a ward result, the Municipal Electoral Act sets out the objection process and deadlines (IEC; REPORTED: how to object).