82 of 117 finished councils are hung. Coalition talks start
By Friday morning, 82 of the 117 local councils with seats allocated had no majority party, according to IEC data tracked by The Outlier. Only 35 have an outright winner. What it means and when mayors must be elected.
By Friday morning, 6 November 2026, seats were in for 117 of South Africa's 205 local councils (outside the metros). Of those, 82 are hung: no party holds more than half the seats. Only 35 have an outright majority, according to The Outlier's tracker of IEC results (last update 10:45 Africa/Johannesburg).
That is a sharp rise from Thursday, when 39 of 54 decided councils were hung. Coalition talks are now the main path to a mayor in most finished towns.
National vote share remains provisional. With about 75% of voting districts counted, the ANC has 31.9%, the DA 24.4% and the MK Party 9.2%, according to IEC figures compiled by Rateweb (10:39 Africa/Johannesburg).
How many finished councils are hung?
| Outcome | Councils (of 117 decided) |
|---|---|
| Hung (no majority) | 82 |
| Majority party | 35 |
| Still counting or seats pending | 88 of 205 |
Source: The Outlier, from IEC data. Figures are provisional until the IEC declares the results.
Which provinces have the most hung councils?
| Province | Hung (finished) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Cape | 17 | Includes Sol Plaatje (Kimberley) and Dawid Kruiper (Upington) |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 16 | MK or IFP often largest, short of a majority |
| Western Cape | 16 | Includes Saldanha Bay, Knysna, Bitou and Prince Albert |
| Free State | 11 | Includes Moqhaka (Kroonstad) and Dihlabeng (Bethlehem) |
| Eastern Cape | 8 | Includes Makana (Makhanda) and Walter Sisulu |
| Mpumalanga | 7 | Includes Mkhondo (Piet Retief) and Msukaligwa (Ermelo) |
| North West | 4 | Includes Naledi (Vryburg) and Mamusa (Schweizer-Reneke) |
| Limpopo | 2 | Bela-Bela and Maruleng |
| Gauteng (local councils) | 1 | Merafong (Carletonville); metros counted separately |
Source: tally of decided councils on The Outlier.
Who has won a majority so far?
Among the 35 finished councils with a majority party:
| Party | Outright wins (local councils) |
|---|---|
| ANC | 23 |
| DA | 7 |
| MK Party | 3 |
| IFP | 1 |
| RTC | 1 |
Source: The Outlier. The MK Party's three wins are all in KwaZulu-Natal: Richmond, iMpendle and Johannes Phumani Pungula. The DA's wins are concentrated in the Western Cape. RTC won Tsantsabane in the Northern Cape.
Earlier on Friday, with counting at about 69%, Sunday World reported the ANC leading in 62 councils but controlling 21, the DA leading 19 and controlling six, and MK leading 10 and controlling three. "Lead" means largest party so far; "control" means an outright seat majority. Those lead totals still move as more councils finish.
What happens next in a hung council?
Parties must agree on a coalition or a minority arrangement before the first council meeting. The municipal manager must call that meeting within 14 days after the IEC declares the council elected (Municipal Structures Act, section 29). At that sitting the council elects a speaker and then a mayor.
Reported's hung council explainer sets out the steps. IOL reports that smaller parties are already being courted as kingmakers in dozens of hung councils.
When will the IEC declare the results?
The IEC must declare results within seven days of the election, so by Wednesday, 11 November 2026. Reporting citing the commission says it plans to announce official results on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Swisher Post; NovaNews). Dashboard figures stay provisional until that declaration.
Section 65 objections close at 17:00 Africa/Johannesburg on Friday, 6 November 2026. See Reported's how to object guide.
How do I check my council?
Metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Mangaung are tracked separately from the 205 local councils above.
FAQ
How many hung councils are there after the 2026 local elections?
By Friday morning, 6 November 2026, 82 of 117 local councils with seats allocated were hung, according to The Outlier's IEC tracker. 88 of 205 were still counting or awaiting seats.
Which provinces have the most hung councils?
Among finished local councils, the Northern Cape has 17 hung, and KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape each have 16.
How many councils has a party won outright so far?
35 finished local councils have a majority party: ANC 23, DA 7, MK Party 3, IFP 1 and RTC 1, per The Outlier.
When must a hung council elect a mayor?
The first council meeting, where the speaker and mayor are elected, must be held within 14 days of the IEC declaring the results.
When will the IEC announce official 2026 local election results?
The legal deadline is 11 November 2026. Reports citing the IEC say it plans to announce on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Sources
- The Outlier: Local councils decided and counting
- Rateweb: Local elections 2026 live IEC count
- Sunday World: ANC leads 62 councils
- Swisher Post: ANC leads 62 councils, IEC Sunday announcement
- NovaNews: IEC official results Sunday 8 November
- IOL: Parties bargain for control of hung councils
- Municipal Structures Act (SAFLII)
- IEC results dashboard