ANC holds onto Tsakani wards amid declining support
The ANC in Ekurhuleni has accepted the outcome of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Tsakani – The ANC has retained power in all the six wards in Tsakani following the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE).
However there has been a noticeable decline for the party.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced the final results on November 8, marking the end of the electoral process following the elections held on November 4, with special votes held on November 2 and 3.
Data from IEC suggest that while the ANC maintained its political control in terms of winning the wards, it has experienced a loss of voter support over the past five years.
The LGE occurred under a service delivery crisis including unreliable water and electricity supply, and failing infrastructure.
The service delivery failures continued well onto election day with residents in Ext 10 and 17 experiencing dry taps while residents in Ext 11 were without electricity.
The ANC’s electoral support in the 2021 and 2026 Local Government Elections:
Ward 81
2021:69.00%, 2026: 41.17%, decline: 27.83 pp (percentage points)
Ward 82
2021:46.17%, 2026: 24.95%, decline: 21.22 pp
Ward 83
2021: 50.24%, 2026: 38.13%, decline: 12.11 pp
Ward 84
2021: 61.96%, 2026: 36.14%, decline: 25.82 pp
Ward 85
2021: 59.85%, 2026: 25.98%, decline: 33.87 pp
Ward 112
2021: 42.22%, 2026: 24.23%, decline: 17.99 pp
Ward 85 recorded the biggest decline.
The ANC’s support in Ward 85 dropped by 33.87 percentage points, from 59.85% in 2021 to 25.98% in 2026. This ward has been greatly affected by persistent lack of electricity supply, which saw residents repeatedly taking to the streets to voice their complaints.
The party failed to received more than 50% of the votes in any of the six wards in the 2026 LGE despite reaching that threshold in four wards in the previous elections.
ActionSA proved to be the biggest challenger of the ANC in Tsakani in the 2026 LGE compared to other parties including the EFF, DA and MKP.
How the ANC faired against other parties in the area:
Ward 81
DA: 9.64%, MKP: 7.43%, EFF: 5.31%, ActionSA: 23.78%
Ward 82
DA: 14.30%, MKP: 6.76%, EFF: 5.52%, ActionSA: 18.16%
Ward 83
DA: 8.21%, MKP: 13.31%, EFF: 6.88%, ActionSA: 21.22%
Ward 84
DA: 7.66%, MKP: 9.12%, EFF: 5.43%, ActionSA: 12.70%
Ward 85
DA: 7.93%, MKP: 13.43%, EFF: 5.46%, ActionSA: 24.10%
Ward 112
DA: 7.04%, MKP: 17.31%, EFF: 19.12%, ActionSA: 21.51%
The ANC in Ekurhuleni has accepted the outcome of the 2026 Local Government Elections, acknowledging that voters have used their democratic right to choose the future of local government.
The party says the results give it an opportunity to reflect on its performance, renew the organisation and make improvements.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on newly elected councillors to put the needs of residents ahead of their personal and political interests.
Speaking after the announcement of the final results of the 2026 Local Government Elections at the IEC Results Operations Centre at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on November 8, Ramaphosa said being elected was a responsibility that leaders should accept with humility.
“Together we must make local government an engine of service delivery, development and opportunities,” he said.
