Mangaung election results 2026: DA leads ANC, 51 seats needed to rule
Early IEC figures show the DA on about 35% and the ANC on about 31% in Mangaung, a metro the ANC won with 51.5% in 2021. A party needs 51 of 101 seats to govern alone.
The DA is ahead of the ANC in Mangaung, the Bloemfontein metro the ANC won outright in 2021. With about a quarter of voting districts counted on Thursday, the DA had about 35% of the party vote and the ANC about 31%, according to provisional IEC figures compiled by The Ledger SA and ESP.
These are early numbers. Only about 100 of Mangaung's 388 voting districts had reported by early afternoon, so the order can still change.
Who is leading in Mangaung right now?
| Party | 2026 party vote so far | 2021 result |
|---|---|---|
| DA | 35.8% | 25.5% |
| ANC | 31.5% | 51.5% |
| EFF | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| VF Plus | 6.9% | 4.4% |
| PA | 4.3% | 1.8% |
Sources: The Ledger SA, from IEC data, 99 of 388 voting districts. A later count of 102 districts on Rateweb showed DA 35.3% and ANC 31.2%.
The ANC's share is down about 20 percentage points on 2021 in the districts counted so far. Turnout in those districts is about 51%, against 43.5% in 2021 (The Ledger SA).
How many seats does a party need to run Mangaung?
Mangaung's council has 101 seats, so a party needs 51 to govern alone (Rateweb). On current figures nobody is close to that, which points to a hung council and coalition talks.
Which wards has each party won?
Only one of 51 wards was fully complete at about 13:30 (ESP). On the ward ballot, ESP showed the ANC leading in 19 wards, the DA in 11, the PA in two and the EFF in one, with the rest still being counted. The DA's leads are mostly in the suburban wards, while the ANC leads in most of the township wards counted so far (The Ledger SA).
What happens if no party gets 51 seats?
The council is then hung and parties must form a coalition or agree on a minority government to elect a mayor. Councils must hold their first sitting within 14 days of the results being declared. The IEC is expected to announce final national results around 11 November.
Where can you check the Mangaung count yourself?
The official source is the IEC results dashboard, which shows voting districts counted and seats allocated. Results stay provisional until the IEC declares them.
FAQ
Who is winning in Mangaung in the 2026 local elections?
With about a quarter of voting districts counted, the DA leads with about 35% of the party vote, ahead of the ANC on about 31%. Results are provisional.
How many seats are needed to govern Mangaung?
51 of the council's 101 seats.
When will final Mangaung results be announced?
The IEC is expected to declare final local election results around 11 November 2026.