Port Shepstone hung: MK on 24 of 71 Ray Nkonyeni seats
Provisional IEC tallies leave Ray Nkonyeni (Port Shepstone, Margate) hung: MK is largest on 24 of 71 seats, 12 short of a majority. The ANC loses the outright control it held in 2021.
Provisional IEC figures leave Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality hung after the 4 November 2026 local elections. The municipality covers Port Shepstone, Margate, Hibberdene, Port Edward and surrounding South Coast towns in the Ugu district of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Outlier (update 17:50 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026, with 100% of voting districts counted) puts uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) on 24 of 71 seats. A party needs 36 seats to govern alone, so MK is 12 seats short. The African National Congress (ANC) is second on 21, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 12 and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on 7. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
In 2021 the ANC held an outright majority with 37 of 71 seats (Inkmark 2021 seat summary). That majority is gone.
What is the Ray Nkonyeni seat split?
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 24 |
| African National Congress (ANC) | 21 |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 12 |
| Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) | 7 |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | 2 |
| Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) | 2 |
| African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) | 1 |
| African Independent Congress (AIC) | 1 |
| African Transformation Movement (ATM) | 1 |
| Total | 71 |
| Seats needed for a majority | 36 |
Sources: The Outlier Ray Nkonyeni card (IEC data); ESP Ray Nkonyeni breaks the same total into 16 ward seats and 8 PR seats for MK, 10 ward and 11 PR for the ANC, 9 ward and 3 PR for the DA, and 1 ward and 6 PR for the IFP, with VF Plus, EFF, ACDP, AIC and ATM on PR seats only. Rateweb marks the council Hung at 100% counted, with MK on about 33.7% of the vote, the ANC on 29.7% and the DA on 17.3%.
How did the vote move from 2021?
On Inkmark's 2021 combined ward and PR share, the ANC had about 51.8%, the DA 19.8%, the IFP 11.2% and the EFF 10.0%. MK did not contest local elections then.
Rateweb's 2026 combined share now puts MK first on about 33.7% (71,657 votes) and the ANC second on about 29.7% (63,033), with the DA on about 17.3% (36,735). That is a drop of more than 20 percentage points for the ANC from its 2021 share on Inkmark's series, and it leaves no party near the 36-seat majority line.
On ESP's ward ballot reading, MK took about 33.1% of valid ward votes (35,265), the ANC about 30.1% (32,021), the DA about 16.8% (17,897) and the IFP about 9.0% (9,582), with turnout around 54% on ESP's PR-based figure for districts in so far.
How does this fit KwaZulu-Natal?
Ray Nkonyeni is one of the larger hung councils on the KZN South Coast. MK is also the largest party in other Ugu and nearby hung towns covered earlier, including KwaDukuza, Mandeni, eShowe and Scottburgh (uMdoni), while Reported has tracked MK outright wins in Richmond, iMpendle and Johannes Phumani Pungula and IFP majorities in Nongoma, Nkandla and Mthonjaneni (Melmoth).
Nationally, more than 100 declared councils are hung on current Rateweb and Outlier tallies. Follow the IEC results dashboard for the official status of each council.
When must Ray Nkonyeni elect a mayor?
Once the IEC declares the result, the new council must hold its first meeting within 14 calendar days to elect a speaker and then a mayor (Municipal Structures Act on SAFLII). In a hung council that usually means a coalition or confidence-and-supply deal before anyone can pass a budget or appoint the executive.
How can you check your own ward?
Use the IEC results dashboard, The Outlier council page, ESP Ray Nkonyeni or Rateweb. Figures stay provisional until objections close and the IEC issues the final declaration, expected around 11 November 2026.
FAQ
Is Ray Nkonyeni a hung council?
Yes on provisional IEC-based tallies with all voting districts counted. The Outlier and Rateweb show no party on 36 or more of the 71 seats. MK is largest on 24 seats, 12 short of a majority.
Which towns fall under Ray Nkonyeni?
Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality on the KZN South Coast includes Port Shepstone, Margate, Hibberdene, Port Edward, Gamalakhe, Uvongo, Shelly Beach and surrounding wards in the Ugu district.
Did the ANC lose its majority in Ray Nkonyeni?
Yes relative to 2021. Inkmark shows the ANC held 37 of 71 seats after the 2021 local election. Provisional 2026 seats put the ANC on 21, behind MK on 24.
When must the new Ray Nkonyeni council elect a mayor?
After the IEC declares the council, the first meeting to elect a speaker and mayor must be held within 14 calendar days under the Municipal Structures Act.