The ANC lost 737 wards. MK took 315 of them, here's where the rest went
The ANC lost 737 wards in the 2026 local elections, News24's data analysis found. MK took 315, the DA 180, the IFP 57 and ActionSA 53. Here are the parties and the places.
The ANC lost 737 wards to other parties in the 2026 local elections, and the MK Party took the biggest share of them: 315. The DA was next with 180, according to a News24 data analysis comparing ward winners in 2021 and 2026 (News24).
That count includes wards whose boundaries were redrawn. Looking only at wards with boundaries that did not change much, the ANC lost 556 (News24).
Which parties took the ANC's wards?
| Party | Former ANC wards won |
|---|---|
| MK Party | 315 |
| DA | 180 |
| IFP | 57 |
| ActionSA | 53 |
| EFF | 29 |
| SACP | 22 |
| UDM | 21 |
| Patriotic Alliance | 15 |
Source: News24 data analysis
How far has ANC support fallen?
The ANC finished on 30.76% nationally in the final results declared on 8 November (Reported, IEC final results). Twenty years ago it had almost 65% of the local government vote (News24).
| Local election | ANC share |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 64.82% |
| 2011 | 61.95% |
| 2016 | 53.91% |
| 2021 | 45.59% |
| 2026 | 30.76% |
Source: News24
Where did MK hurt the ANC most?
Almost entirely in KwaZulu-Natal. Of MK's 315 gains from the ANC, all but 23 were in KZN. The other 23 were 22 wards in Mpumalanga and one in North West (News24).
| Municipality | Wards MK took from the ANC |
|---|---|
| eThekwini (Durban) | 71 |
| Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg) | 23 |
| KwaDukuza (Stanger) | 17 |
| Newcastle | 16 |
| uMhlathuze (Richards Bay) | 16 |
| Ray Nkonyeni (Port Shepstone) | 15 |
| Mkhondo (Piet Retief) | 14 |
Source: News24
Where did the DA and ActionSA gain?
The DA's biggest haul was Emfuleni in the Vaal, where it took 27 wards from the ANC and grew its vote from 26.91% in 2021 to 40.90%. It also took six wards each in Johannesburg and Matjhabeng (Welkom), and five each in Dawid Kruiper (Upington), Nelson Mandela Bay and uMngeni (Howick) (News24).
ActionSA, which grew from 2.33% to 5.67% nationally, won most of its former ANC wards in Gauteng townships: 25 in Tshwane (mainly Mamelodi, Soshanguve and Atteridgeville), 17 in Ekurhuleni (Tembisa, Vosloorus and Daveyton) and 10 in Johannesburg, including Soweto (News24).
The IFP took 54 wards from the ANC across KwaZulu-Natal, with Umzumbe alone accounting for 11, plus three in Johannesburg (News24).
What about the Western Cape?
There the ANC's lost support went mostly to the Patriotic Alliance rather than the DA. The ANC fell from 20.5% to 14.8% of the provincial vote, while the PA rose from 2.3% to 7.3% and now holds 91 council seats in the province, up from 28 (Cape Town Data).
What happens next?
With 127 hung councils, the wards that changed hands now feed into coalition talks. New councils must hold their first meeting, where the speaker and mayor are elected, within 14 days of being declared elected (Reported, IEC final results).
FAQ
How many wards did the ANC lose in the 2026 local elections?
737 wards, including redrawn wards, according to a News24 data analysis. Counting only wards with largely unchanged boundaries, it lost 556.
Which party took the most wards from the ANC?
The MK Party, with 315 former ANC wards, almost all in KwaZulu-Natal. The DA was second with 180.
What percentage did the ANC get in the 2026 local elections?
30.76% nationally in the final results declared on 8 November 2026, down from 45.59% in 2021.
Where did the DA gain the most wards from the ANC?
Emfuleni in the Vaal, where the DA took 27 wards from the ANC, according to News24.