Ntabankulu ANC wins majority: 28 of 38 seats in Eastern Cape

Provisional IEC figures now show the African National Congress with a majority on the Ntabankulu local council: 28 of 38 seats, after all 19 wards and 146 voting districts were declared in this Alfred Nzo municipality in the Eastern Cape (The Outlier, update 18:44 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Ntabankulu results from IEC data; Rateweb Ntabankulu results).

A party needs 20 seats for an outright majority on this 38-seat council. The ANC is eight seats clear. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.

The Economic Freedom Fighters finish second with 3 seats. The African Transformation Movement, Democratic Alliance and South African Communist Party each hold 2 seats, and the MK Party holds 1 (The Outlier; ESP).

What is the Ntabankulu seat split?

Source: ESP seat allocation from IEC data and The Outlier. Figures can still move slightly until the IEC's formal declaration.

How strong was the ANC's vote share?

On the ward ballot, the ANC took about 73.3% of valid votes (23 078 of 31 478), with the EFF on about 8.9% and the DA on about 4.8% (ESP). That ward share is down about 8.2 percentage points from about 81.5% in 2021 for the same municipality (ESP).

The ANC won all 19 wards. Every opposition seat on this council comes from the proportional-representation (PR) ballot (ESP; Rateweb).

Turnout on the PR ballot is about 40.8% of the roughly 77 825 voters on the roll (ESP).

What does an ANC majority mean for residents?

With 28 seats, the ANC can elect a mayor and pass a budget without needing a coalition partner on this council. That is different from the many hung councils elsewhere in the country, where no party reached half the seats (Municipal Structures Act on SAFLII; REPORTED: hung councils explainer).

A majority does not freeze rates, water or electricity policy overnight. The new council still has to appoint a mayor and committees, and day-to-day service decisions follow the municipal budget and by-laws. Residents who want the official seat arithmetic should use the IEC results dashboard or the IEC mobile app.

How do these numbers compare with 2021?

Sources: Inkmark 2021 seat summary; ESP 2026 vs 2021; The Outlier.

The ANC still governs alone here, but it holds three fewer seats than in 2021 and its ward share is down by about eight percentage points. The SACP, contesting separately from its long-time ally, enters this council with two PR seats.

When are results final, and where can I check my ward?

The IEC publishes voting-district results as they are verified, then declares each council once its count is complete. Final national certification is due by about 11 November 2026 (IEC results home; REPORTED: when results are announced).

To check a specific Ntabankulu ward:

1. Open the IEC results dashboard.
2. Or use ESP Ntabankulu page, which mirrors IEC files ward by ward.
3. Or follow live seat tallies on The Outlier and Rateweb.

If a party objects to a ward result, the Municipal Electoral Act sets out the objection process and deadlines (IEC; REPORTED: how to object).