As counting begins, political parties will watch the leaderboard closely.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) took an early lead in the 2026 Local Government Elections in the City of Ekurhuleni, securing 41% of the votes counted so far, as political parties await the final outcome of a closely watched municipal contest.

ActionSA is currently in second position, followed by the African National Congress (ANC) in third place. The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) occupies fourth position, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rounds off the top five.

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The preliminary figures offer an early indication of the political landscape emerging in Ekurhuleni, where residents have been voting amid growing concerns about service delivery, municipal accountability and the future leadership of the metro.

The municipality has experienced political instability during the current council term, with three mayors taking office, raising questions about political stability, coalition arrangements and the ability of successive administrations to maintain continuity in service delivery.

One of the most striking features of the outgoing administration has been the appointment of three different executive mayors since the 2021 local government elections: Tania Campbell of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Sivuyile Ngodwana of the African Independent Congress (AIC), and the ANC’s Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.

The changes reflect the complicated political arithmetic that followed the 2021 elections, when no party secured an outright majority in the 224-seat council.

Although the ANC emerged as the largest party with 86 seats, it fell short of the 113 seats required to govern independently.

The DA secured 65 seats, while the EFF obtained 31. Smaller parties, including ActionSA, became important players in determining who would control the municipality.

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GCN spoke to Primrose Ratepayers Association representative David-Hutch Barr about the feeling on the ground at the voting station and the hope they have for the new administration.

“The voting went smoothly, with short queues, attentive staff, and proper priority for older and pregnant voters,” said Hutch Barr.
The Association welcomed the efficient management on the day, but said the real test lies in what comes next.

He said as residents, they would love to see consistent service delivery and firm by-law enforcement.

The area has been riddled with persistent power interruptions, water throttling, and longstanding road problems. Hutch Barr said they would like co-ordinated action on illegal land use, including the alleged rise in unauthorised businesses and liquor outlets, as well as visible building violations.

Also on the issue of zama zamas, the community is demanding a permanent solution. “Police are overwhelmed with this matter. A more co-ordinated intervention is needed with law enforcement stationed on-site until the problem is sorted,” said Hutch Barr.