Kroonstad is hung: ANC 15, DA 13 in Moqhaka's 40-seat council
Moqhaka (Kroonstad) has a hung council. The ANC won 15 of 40 seats and the DA 13, with only 1,012 ward votes between them. 21 seats are needed to govern. Full seat and vote tables.
Moqhaka, the Free State municipality that includes Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon and Steynsrus, has a hung council. With all 98 voting districts counted, the ANC has 15 of the 40 seats and the DA 13. A party needs 21 to govern alone (ESP; The People's Register).
The race was close. The ANC took 35.4% of the ward vote and the DA 32.7%, a gap of 1,012 votes out of 37,301 (ESP).
Who won how many seats?
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| ANC | 15 |
| DA | 13 |
| EFF | 4 |
| Freedom Front Plus | 3 |
| SACP | 1 |
| Moqhaka Community Forum | 1 |
| ActionSA | 1 |
| African Congress for Transformation | 1 |
| United Development Forum | 1 |
Source: The People's Register (IEC allocation dated 8 November 2026 at 15:27 SAST), matching ESP and Counted.
In 2021 the council had 44 seats, and the ANC held 22, one short of a majority. The DA had 10, the EFF 5, and the Moqhaka Community Forum and Freedom Front Plus 3 each (Counted 2021). The council now has 40 seats.
Turnout was 46.6% of 81,781 registered voters (ESP).
How did the ward vote split?
| Party | Ward votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 13,200 | 35.4% |
| DA | 12,188 | 32.7% |
| EFF | 3,289 | 8.8% |
| Freedom Front Plus | 2,655 | 7.1% |
| United Development Forum | 1,228 | 3.3% |
| African Congress for Transformation | 700 | 1.9% |
Source: ESP, using IEC data. The ANC's ward share fell from 49.9% in 2021.
What would it take to reach 21 seats?
This is seat arithmetic, not a prediction. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
| Combination | Seats |
|---|---|
| ANC + DA | 28 |
| ANC + EFF + any two one-seat parties | 21 |
| DA + EFF + Freedom Front Plus + any one-seat party | 21 |
| DA + Freedom Front Plus + all five one-seat parties | 21 |
| Everyone except the ANC | 25 |
Source: seat totals from The People's Register.
Both the ANC and the DA have plausible paths. The ANC is six seats short and the DA eight, so the EFF's four seats and the five one-seat parties will decide who runs Kroonstad.
When will Moqhaka get a mayor?
The IEC planned 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).
The seat figures 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 Moqhaka a hung council after the 2026 election?
Yes. With all 98 voting districts counted, the ANC has 15 of 40 seats and the DA 13. A party needs 21 to govern alone. The figures are provisional until the IEC formally declares the result.
How many seats did each party win in Moqhaka?
ANC 15, DA 13, EFF 4, Freedom Front Plus 3, and one each for the SACP, Moqhaka Community Forum, ActionSA, African Congress for Transformation and United Development Forum.
Which parties could form a majority in Moqhaka?
ANC plus DA gives 28 seats. The ANC could also reach 21 with the EFF and two one-seat parties, and the DA could reach 21 with the EFF, Freedom Front Plus and one more party. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
When will Moqhaka 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.