Government

Mangaung recount flips Ward 19. ANC 35 seats, DA 34

An IEC recount of Mangaung Ward 19 gave the DA the ward and a 34th council seat. The ANC now has 35 of 101 seats. Final results are due Sunday at 18:00.

By Reported Team

Election officials holding up ballot papers during a vote count beside a transparent ballot box
Émilie Iob (VOA), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An IEC recount of Mangaung Ward 19 has flipped the ward to the DA and cut the ANC's lead in the Bloemfontein metro to one seat.

News24 reports that the recount overturned the first result, in which the ANC had won the ward by two votes. After the recount, the DA held the ward by a margin of about 50 votes. That gives the DA 34 of 101 seats and the ANC 35, according to Rateweb's IEC-based seat table updated at 18:46 on 7 November 2026.

The council still needs 51 seats for a majority, so Mangaung remains hung. Results stay provisional until the IEC declares them.

What changed after the Ward 19 recount?

PartySeats after recountWard + PR (Rateweb)Share of ballots
ANC3535 + 033.9%
DA3414 + 2033.5%
EFF91 + 88.6%
VF Plus60 + 65.9%
PA41 + 34.3%
ActionSA30 + 32.7%
SACP20 + 21.6%
Eight smaller parties1 each0 + 8under 1.3% each

Sources: Rateweb, from IEC data, News24 on the Ward 19 recount.

Before the recount, Reported's full-count article had the ANC on 36 seats and the DA on 33 (Mangaung full count). The DA's ward total moved from 13 to 14; the ANC's from 36 to 35.

Why was Ward 19 recounted?

Ward 19 (Ehrlich Park Fire Station) was one of five wards the IEC ordered recounted after upholding objections. The others are Tshwane wards 57 and 102, Thaba Chweu ward 4, and Breede Valley ward 12 (IOL, IEC briefing, our earlier objections report).

By Saturday afternoon the IEC had received 197 objections: 54 dismissed, eight withdrawn and two upheld. Chairperson Mosotho Moepya warned that provisional seats can still change while objections are decided (IOL).

When are the final Mangaung results official?

The IEC is scheduled to declare the national local-election results at 18:00 on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (IOL). Until then, treat seat numbers as provisional.

Free State results processing was already listed as complete before Sunday's declaration, but objection outcomes (like Ward 19) can still amend the published totals.

What does a one-seat gap mean for Bloemfontein?

Neither the ANC nor the DA can govern alone. Parties will need a coalition or a minority arrangement that can win votes in council, including for mayor and speakers. Under the Municipal Structures Act, a new council generally has 14 days after the IEC result to elect a mayor (our hung-council timeline explainer).

For rates, water and refuse, nothing changes overnight. Service decisions stay with the outgoing council until the new one is sworn in and office-bearers are elected.

How can you check the latest Mangaung seats?

If another recount or objection changes a ward after you read this, the IEC dashboard and Sunday's declaration are the authoritative figures.

FAQ

Who won Mangaung Ward 19 after the recount?

The DA won Ward 19 after an IEC recount. News24 reported the DA's margin was about 50 votes, overturning an initial ANC win by two votes.

How many seats do the ANC and DA have in Mangaung now?

After the recount, Rateweb's IEC-based table showed the ANC on 35 of 101 seats and the DA on 34. A majority needs 51 seats, so the council is still hung.

When will Mangaung's results be final?

The IEC plans to declare the 2026 local election results at 18:00 on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Until then, seat numbers remain provisional.

Why was there a recount in Mangaung?

Ward 19 was one of five wards the IEC ordered recounted after upholding objections among 197 lodged by the Friday deadline.

Does the ANC still control Mangaung?

No party has the 51 seats needed to govern alone. The ANC is the largest party on 35 seats, one ahead of the DA, so a coalition or other council deal is required.

Sources