Matlosana (Klerksdorp) hung: ANC loses majority with 32 seats
The ANC has lost its Matlosana (Klerksdorp) majority after a full count: 32 of 77 seats, down from 40 in 2021 and 7 short of 39. Seat table, vote shift and what happens next.
The ANC has lost its majority in the City of Matlosana (Klerksdorp, Jouberton, Kanana, Khuma, Orkney and Stilfontein, municipal code NW403). Provisional IEC figures after a full count give the party 32 of 77 seats, 7 short of the 39 needed to govern alone (ESP Matlosana results from IEC data; The Outlier Matlosana; Rateweb Matlosana).
In 2021 the ANC won 40 seats on the same 77-seat council, a majority with one seat to spare (Wikipedia, 2021 Matlosana results; Inkmark Matlosana). That majority is now gone.
All 129 voting districts and all 39 wards are counted, according to ESP and The People's Register, which both draw on the IEC's municipal record (ESP; The People's Register Matlosana). The seats stay provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
Matlosana seat count
| Party | Seats | Ward + PR | 2021 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANC | 32 | 30 + 2 | 40 |
| DA | 20 | 8 + 12 | 16 |
| Freedom Front Plus | 6 | 1 + 5 | 7 |
| EFF | 6 | 0 + 6 | 9 |
| SACP | 3 | 0 + 3 | 0 |
| ActionSA | 3 | 0 + 3 | 0 |
| MK Party | 2 | 0 + 2 | 0 |
| Patriotic Alliance | 1 | 0 + 1 | 2 |
| People's Freedom Party | 1 | 0 + 1 | 0 |
| United Africans Transformation | 1 | 0 + 1 | 0 |
| All Citizens Party | 1 | 0 + 1 | 0 |
| Matlosana Service Delivery Movement | 1 | 0 + 1 | 0 |
Sources: 2026 seats from ESP's IEC seat table and The Outlier; 2021 seats from Wikipedia. In 2021 the Forum for Service Delivery (2) and ACDP (1) also held seats.
How the vote moved
| Ballot | ANC 2026 | ANC 2021 | DA 2026 | DA 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward ballot | 41.2% | 51.8% | 26.1% | 20.7% |
| PR (party) ballot | 41.2% | 52.6% | 26.1% | 20.6% |
Sources: 2026 from ESP and The People's Register; 2021 from Wikipedia.
The ANC's ward vote fell by about 10.6 percentage points, ESP reports. The DA gained about five points, while the EFF slipped from 11.4% to 7.8% on the ward ballot. The Freedom Front Plus dipped from 8.9% to 7.5% but kept its one ward.
ESP puts turnout at 48.0% of about 202,000 registered voters, up from 42.4% in 2021 (ESP; Wikipedia).
Wards: ANC still dominates the townships
The ANC won 30 of 39 wards, the DA 8 and the Freedom Front Plus 1 (ward 30) (The Outlier; ESP). The DA's wards are 15, 16, 17, 19, 28, 29, 31 and 39. Ward wins alone do not decide control, because the 38 PR seats are shared so each party's total matches its vote. That is why the ANC got only two PR seats despite its ward haul.
What it takes to govern Matlosana
A majority needs 39 seats. On the provisional figures:
| Seat combination | Total |
|---|---|
| ANC + EFF | 38 |
| ANC + EFF + SACP | 41 |
| ANC + DA | 52 |
| All parties except the ANC | 45 |
This is arithmetic only, from the ESP seat table. No party has announced a deal for Matlosana.
The council's first meeting, where councillors elect a speaker and mayor, must be held within 14 days of the results being declared. Reported explains the process in what happens in a hung council after the election.
North West picture
Matlosana is one of 9 hung councils among the 16 fully counted North West municipalities on Rateweb's tracker, alongside JB Marks (Potchefstroom), Madibeng (Brits) and Mafikeng (Rateweb North West). Rustenburg and Ditsobotla were still counting on Saturday afternoon. Nationally, IOL reported on Friday night that 110 councils were already hung (IOL).
Check the latest figures on the IEC results dashboard or ESP Matlosana. The IEC expects to declare final results around 11 November 2026.
FAQ
Did the ANC keep its majority in Matlosana (Klerksdorp)?
No. Provisional IEC figures give the ANC 32 of 77 seats, down from 40 in 2021. A majority needs 39, so the council is hung (ESP, The Outlier).
What is the Matlosana seat split?
ANC 32, DA 20, Freedom Front Plus 6, EFF 6, SACP 3, ActionSA 3, MK Party 2, and one seat each for the PA, People's Freedom Party, United Africans Transformation, All Citizens Party and Matlosana Service Delivery Movement (ESP from IEC data).
Which towns are in Matlosana?
The City of Matlosana (NW403) includes Klerksdorp, Jouberton, Kanana, Khuma, Tigane, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartebeesfontein in North West.
When will Matlosana get a new mayor?
The first council meeting must be held within 14 days of the results being declared. Councillors elect the speaker and mayor there. The IEC expects final results around 11 November 2026.