Lebowakgomo council is hung: ANC 2 seats short with 29 of 60
Lepele-Nkumpi (Lebowakgomo) has a hung council. The ANC won 29 of 60 seats, two short of a majority. It took 29 of 30 wards, with Defenders of the People winning Ward 29. Full seat and vote tables.
Lepele-Nkumpi, the Limpopo municipality that includes Lebowakgomo, has a hung council. With all 142 voting districts counted, the ANC has 29 of the 60 seats, two short of the 31 needed to govern alone (ESP).
The ANC won 29 of the 30 wards. Defenders of the People won Ward 29. The ANC's share of the ward vote fell to 44.6% from 61.4% in 2021 (ESP).
Who won how many seats?
| Party | Ward seats | PR seats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANC | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| EFF | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| SACP | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| DA | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| ActionSA | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Defenders of the People | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| United Africans Transformation | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| MK Party | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Afrika Mayibuye Movement | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| United Progressive People Alliance | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| South African Residents Association | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent Community Forum | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: The People's Register (IEC allocation dated 8 November 2026 at 13:16 SAST), matching ESP and Counted.
In 2021 the ANC held 40 of the 60 seats, with the EFF on 12 and Defenders of the People on 4 (Counted 2021).
Turnout was 45.7% of 127,511 registered voters, with 56,887 valid ward votes (ESP).
How did the ward vote split?
| Party | Ward votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 25,358 | 44.6% |
| EFF | 7,090 | 12.5% |
| SACP | 5,582 | 9.8% |
| DA | 4,377 | 7.7% |
| ActionSA | 3,656 | 6.4% |
| Defenders of the People | 2,402 | 4.2% |
| United Africans Transformation | 2,159 | 3.8% |
Source: ESP, using IEC data.
What would it take to reach 31 seats?
This is seat arithmetic, not a prediction. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
| Combination | Seats |
|---|---|
| ANC + EFF | 36 |
| ANC + SACP | 35 |
| ANC + DA | 34 |
| ANC + ActionSA | 33 |
| ANC + Defenders of the People | 31 |
| ANC + United Africans Transformation | 31 |
| All 11 other parties together | 31 |
Source: seat totals from The People's Register.
Because the ANC is two seats short, it would need a partner with at least two seats, or two of the one-seat parties. The other eleven parties together hold 31 seats, so a majority without the ANC is possible only if every one of them backs the same deal.
When will Lepele-Nkumpi get a mayor?
The IEC is due 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).
Seat figures above 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 Lepele-Nkumpi a hung council after the 2026 election?
Yes. With all 142 voting districts counted, the ANC has 29 of 60 seats and needs 31 to govern alone. The figures are provisional until the IEC formally declares the result.
How many seats did each party win in Lepele-Nkumpi?
The ANC has 29, the EFF 7, the SACP 6, the DA 5, ActionSA 4, Defenders of the People 2 and United Africans Transformation 2. Five other parties have one seat each.
What would it take for a majority in Lepele-Nkumpi?
A party or combination needs 31 of 60 seats. The ANC would need a partner with at least two seats, or two of the one-seat parties. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
When will Lepele-Nkumpi 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.