Parties elated ANC has been brought below 50% in some municipalities

While opposition parties were elated that the ANC had been brought below 50% in many municipalities, despite the ruling party having won most of the 213, parties were planning talks on forming allies for the 66 hung municipalities.

Despite a decline in voters, the ANC has again come out on top, winning by majority 161 municipalities, followed by the DA having a majority of 13 municipalities and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) achieving a majority of 10 municipalities.

But this resulted in 66 municipalities being hung councils, meaning parties would have to form governing coalitions.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said they were “buoyed” by the election results, stating that where no agreements could be formed, the party was willing to sit in the opposition benches.

But Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA outperformed the EFF in Johannesburg, coming third after the ANC and DA at 16.05%. Johannesburg campaign manager Sarah Wissler said they were extremely proud of themselves, since the party was only a year old. But the party would not be approaching anyone for a coalition.

“We would have wanted 20% instead of 16% but considering the short time that we had to put this whole thing together once they announced the elections, I think we did exceptionally well. The senate is already sitting at the moment and having a chat about what we are doing going forward but we are not calling anyone [for coalitions]. If they want to work with us, they must call us,” she said.

While the ANC seemed victorious, despite a drop in votes, ANC election head Fikile Mbalula says the main reason was the low turnout of voters.

rorisangk@citizen.co.za