North West's 11 hung councils: the ANC is 1 to 3 seats short in 7
The ANC lost its majority in 11 of North West's 18 councils. In seven it is one to three seats short, while Rustenburg, Matlosana, Madibeng and JB Marks need a bigger partner. Seat maths per council.
North West has 11 hung councils out of 18 after the 4 November election (GroundUp, SABC News). In seven of them the ANC is only one to three seats short of governing alone, so one or two small parties could decide who runs the council.
The bigger towns are harder. In Rustenburg, Madibeng (Brits), Matlosana (Klerksdorp) and JB Marks (Potchefstroom) the ANC needs a bigger partner, and in all four an ANC and DA deal would clear the bar (The Outlier).
How did the ANC do in North West?
It is still the biggest party, but its support fell below 50% for the first time, with the DA second and the EFF third (SABC News). The ANC lost 86 council seats compared with 2021 and kept outright control of seven councils (GroundUp).
ActionSA, which merged with Forum 4 Service Delivery for this election, won 57 seats across the province (GroundUp).
How close is the ANC in each hung council?
| Council (main town) | Seats needed | ANC | Short by | ANC + DA | ANC + EFF | ANC + ActionSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kgetlengrivier (Koster) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | n/a | 7 |
| Ramotshere Moiloa (Zeerust) | 19 | 18 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 24 |
| Naledi (Vryburg) | 10 | 9 | 1 | 12 | n/a | 10 |
| Mahikeng (Mahikeng) | 36 | 34 | 2 | 41 | 43 | 40 |
| Ditsobotla (Lichtenburg) | 20 | 18 | 2 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
| Mamusa (Schweizer-Reneke) | 9 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Lekwa-Teemane (Christiana) | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| Matlosana (Klerksdorp) | 39 | 32 | 7 | 52 | 38 | 35 |
| Madibeng (Brits) | 42 | 34 | 8 | 46 | 47 | 39 |
| Rustenburg (Rustenburg) | 46 | 35 | 11 | 48 | 47 | 41 |
| JB Marks (Potchefstroom) | 34 | 22 | 12 | 43 | 27 | 27 |
Seats are provisional IEC results via The Outlier (linked per council), as at 13 November 2026. "n/a" means the EFF was not listed among the council's top parties.
The table is seat arithmetic only, not a forecast of any deal.
Where is it closest?
In Kgetlengrivier (Koster), Ramotshere Moiloa (Zeerust) and Naledi (Vryburg) the ANC is one seat short. In Mahikeng, Ditsobotla (Lichtenburg) and Mamusa (Schweizer-Reneke) it is two short. In Lekwa-Teemane (Christiana) the ANC and EFF are tied on five seats each in a 14-seat council (The Outlier).
What about the big towns?
Matlosana will have a coalition government for the first time since the municipality was set up in 2000. The ANC dropped from 40 to 32 of 77 seats, while the DA rose to 20 (GroundUp). GroundUp reports the municipality is under a mandatory financial recovery plan and that creditors wait about 600 days to be paid (GroundUp).
In JB Marks the ANC (22) and DA (21) are almost level, with the FF Plus on 6 (The Outlier).
In Rustenburg, the ANC needs 11 more seats. Its 35 plus the EFF's 12 gives 47, and with the DA's 13 it gives 48, both above the 46 needed (The Outlier).
Will the ANC partner with the DA?
Not settled. The ANC's national executive committee has resolved that the DA should be a last-resort partner in municipal coalitions, according to SABC News. Reported has the national picture on that decision here.
When must these councils sit?
The IEC gazetted elected councillors on 13 November, which started a 14-day deadline for first council meetings, where the mayor and speaker are elected (EWN).
FAQ
How many North West councils are hung after the 2026 election?
11 of the province's 18 councils have no party with a majority.
Where is the ANC one seat short in North West?
Kgetlengrivier (Koster), Ramotshere Moiloa (Zeerust) and Naledi (Vryburg), on provisional IEC seats.
How many seats does the ANC have in Matlosana?
32 of 77, seven short of the 39 needed. The DA has 20.
When do North West's new councils have to hold their first meeting?
Within 14 days of the IEC gazetting elected councillors on 13 November 2026.