Polokwane, Mbombela, Rustenburg results: where the ANC is under 50%
Provisional IEC results show the ANC ahead in most big towns in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West but under 50% in several, with the DA leading JB Marks.
The ANC is ahead in most of the big towns of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, but it is below 50% in several of them, and the DA leads in JB Marks (Potchefstroom), according to provisional IEC results compiled by The Outlier on Thursday afternoon.
Counting is uneven. Mbombela and JB Marks are more than half done, while Polokwane and Rustenburg have less than a tenth of their voting districts in.
Who leads in each major council?
| Council | Province | Counted | Leader | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polokwane | Limpopo | 8% | ANC 57.6% | EFF 13.2% |
| Mbombela (Nelspruit) | Mpumalanga | 55% | ANC 50.3% | DA 13.8% |
| Emalahleni (Witbank) | Mpumalanga | 29% | ANC 31.1% | DA 26.4% |
| Steve Tshwete (Middelburg) | Mpumalanga | 11% | ANC 37.3% | DA 18.9% |
| Rustenburg | North West | 6% | ANC 35.1% | DA 22.5% |
| Madibeng (Brits) | North West | 22% | ANC 46.6% | EFF 12.9% |
| Matlosana (Klerksdorp) | North West | 42% | ANC 41.2% | DA 25.5% |
| JB Marks (Potchefstroom) | North West | 73% | DA 35.0% | ANC 30.6% |
Source: The Outlier council results, from IEC data. Counted is the share of voting districts captured; vote shares are of votes counted so far.
Which of these could end up hung?
Where the leader is well under 50%, a coalition is likely. That includes Emalahleni, where the ANC and DA are about five points apart and the MK Party has 12.6%, and JB Marks, where the VF Plus has 11.4% behind the DA and ANC (The Outlier). In Rustenburg, the local BBS party has about 10%.
Mbombela is the closest to a clear outcome, with the ANC just above half the vote and more than half the districts counted.
What happens if no party wins a majority?
Parties must agree on a coalition or minority government before the first council meeting, which has to be held within 14 days of the results being declared. Reported's hung council explainer sets out how that works. The IEC expects to announce final results around 11 November.
Where can you check your own ward?
Use the official IEC results dashboard to look up your municipality and ward. Every figure here is provisional until the IEC declares it.
FAQ
Who is winning Rustenburg in the 2026 local elections?
The ANC leads with 35.1% ahead of the DA on 22.5%, but only about 6% of voting districts had been counted.
Who leads in Potchefstroom (JB Marks)?
With 73% of voting districts counted, the DA leads on 35.0% ahead of the ANC on 30.6%.
When will final results be announced?
The IEC expects to declare final results around 11 November 2026.