Newcastle is hung: MK wins 23 of 71 seats, IFP 15, ANC 10
Newcastle has a hung council. With all 127 voting districts counted, the MK Party has 23 of 71 seats after winning 23 wards, the IFP 15, the ANC 10 and the DA 7. A party needs 36 to govern alone. Final results are due Sunday at 18:00.
Newcastle has a hung council. With all 127 voting districts counted, the MK Party is the biggest party with 23 of the 71 seats, 13 short of the 36 needed to govern alone (ESP).
The IFP has 15 seats and the ANC 10. The MK Party won 23 of the 36 wards and took 31.0% of the ward vote, according to IEC data on ESP.
Who won how many seats?
| Party | Ward seats | PR seats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MK Party | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| IFP | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| ANC | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| DA | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| ActionSA | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Newcastle and District Residents Forum | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| International Revelation Congress | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| EFF | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Six other parties | 0 | 6 | 6 (one each) |
The six one-seat parties are the Freedom Front Plus, National Freedom Party, Independent Alliance, People's Voice Party, Amandla Awethu Movement and Majuba Progressive Movement. Source: ESP, using IEC data; also on The People's Register.
Turnout was 52.5% of about 202,000 registered voters, with 104,353 valid ward votes (ESP).
How did the ward vote split?
| Party | Ward votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MK Party | 32,303 | 31.0% |
| IFP | 21,341 | 20.5% |
| ANC | 14,959 | 14.3% |
| DA | 9,936 | 9.5% |
| ActionSA | 4,862 | 4.7% |
| Newcastle and District Residents Forum | 3,981 | 3.8% |
Source: ESP. The MK Party gets no PR seats because its 23 ward wins already cover its share of the vote.
What would it take to reach 36 seats?
This is seat arithmetic, not a prediction. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
| Combination | Seats |
|---|---|
| MK Party + IFP | 38 |
| MK Party + ANC + DA | 40 |
| MK Party + ANC + ActionSA | 36 |
| IFP + ANC + DA + ActionSA | 35 |
| IFP + ANC + DA + ActionSA + Residents Forum | 38 |
A deal without the MK Party needs at least five parties, while the MK Party can reach 36 with the IFP alone or with the ANC and one more party.
When will Newcastle get a mayor?
The results are still provisional. The IEC plans to announce the final 2026 local election results at 18:00 on Sunday, 8 November (eNCA), and seat allocations can still change if objections are upheld (IOL).
Once the council is declared, the municipal manager must call the first council meeting within 14 days, where councillors elect a speaker and mayor (Municipal Structures Act; Reported: what happens in a hung council).
How to check your ward result
Use the IEC's results dashboard and search for Newcastle (KZN252). Ward-by-ward results are also on ESP and The People's Register. Only the IEC's declaration is final.
FAQ
Is Newcastle a hung council after the 2026 election?
Yes. With all 127 voting districts counted, the MK Party has 23 of 71 seats and no party has the 36 needed to govern alone. The IEC declares final results on Sunday 8 November at 18:00.
How many seats did each party win in Newcastle?
MK Party 23, IFP 15, ANC 10, DA 7, ActionSA 3, Newcastle and District Residents Forum 3, International Revelation Congress 2, EFF 2, and one each for six smaller parties.
Which parties together reach a majority in Newcastle?
On the provisional seat allocation, the MK Party and IFP together have 38, and the MK Party, ANC and ActionSA have 36. A deal without the MK Party needs at least five parties. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
When will Newcastle elect a mayor?
After the IEC declares the result, the municipal manager must call the first council meeting within 14 days, where the speaker and mayor are elected.