Nelson Mandela Bay full count: DA 53 seats, 8 short of majority
With every Nelson Mandela Bay voting district counted, the DA has 53 of 120 seats and the ANC 32, leaving Gqeberha with a hung council that needs 61 seats to govern.
The DA has the most seats in Nelson Mandela Bay but falls 8 short of a majority. With all 268 voting districts counted, the DA has 53 of 120 seats and the ANC 32, so the metro covering Gqeberha, Kariega and Despatch has a hung council that needs 61 seats to govern (Rateweb, from IEC data at 09:31 on 7 November 2026, The Ledger SA, from IEC data).
This updates our early Nelson Mandela Bay count from Thursday. The figures are provisional until the IEC formally declares the results.
How many seats did each party win in Nelson Mandela Bay?
| Party | Seats | Ward seats | PR seats | Share of ballots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DA | 53 | 28 | 25 | 44.2% |
| ANC | 32 | 32 | 0 | 25.5% |
| EFF | 7 | 0 | 7 | 5.6% |
| SACP | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3.2% |
| PA | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3.0% |
| VF Plus | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2.5% |
| UDM | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2.4% |
| Mayibuye Civic Movement | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.9% |
| ActionSA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.8% |
| MK Party | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.2% |
| Eight smaller parties | 1 each | 0 | 8 | 1.1% or less each |
Source: Rateweb, from IEC data. The one-seat parties are the ACDP, Afrika Mayibuye Movement, ATM, PAC, UPPA, AIC, Democratic Movement and National Alliance. The share column combines ward and PR ballots, which is the total the law uses to allocate seats.
How does this compare with 2021?
In 2021 the DA and ANC were almost level. This time the DA's party (PR) vote rose to 44.4% while the ANC's fell to 25.6%. Turnout was 52.4%, up from 45.8% (The Ledger SA, from IEC data).
| Party | 2021 PR vote | 2026 PR vote |
|---|---|---|
| DA | 40.0% | 44.4% |
| ANC | 39.6% | 25.6% |
| EFF | 6.4% | 5.6% |
| SACP | Not in top five | 3.1% |
| PA | Not in top five | 3.0% |
Why did the ANC win more wards but fewer seats?
The ANC won 32 of the 60 wards and the DA 28 (The Ledger SA ward results). Half the council is filled from party lists, which top parties up to their overall share of the vote, so the DA's bigger vote share gave it 25 PR seats and the ANC none (Rateweb).
What happens next in a hung council?
No party can elect a mayor alone. On the seat numbers, the ANC is the only single party that would take the DA past 61; otherwise the DA would need at least two partners, since the EFF's 7 seats bring it to 60. The new council must hold its first sitting within 14 days of the results being declared, where it elects a speaker, executive mayor and chief whip (Municipal Structures Act, section 29, on SAFLII). Until then, the current administration keeps running services.
Where can you check the official results?
Use the IEC results dashboard, which shows seats, ward winners and voting district results. The IEC has said final national results are expected around 11 November 2026.
FAQ
Who won Nelson Mandela Bay in the 2026 local election?
No party won a majority. With all districts counted the DA has 53 of 120 seats and the ANC 32, so the council is hung. The results are provisional until the IEC declares them.
How many seats are needed to govern Nelson Mandela Bay?
61 of the 120 council seats are needed for a majority, so the DA is 8 seats short.
When will Nelson Mandela Bay elect a mayor?
The new council must hold its first sitting within 14 days of the results being declared, and it elects the executive mayor at that meeting.