POLOKWANE – The ANC will have to negotiate for power in 10 municipalities after the 2026 Local Government Elections left large parts of Limpopo without an outright majority, despite the party remaining the province’s dominant political force.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Monday, November 9, declared the results for all 22 local municipalities and five district councils in Limpopo, confirming that the ANC secured outright control of 12 municipalities while remaining the largest party in all 22.

The following municipalities will require coalition or minority governments after no party secured more than 50% of the seats:

• Ba-Phalaborwa
• Bela-Bela
• Elias Motsoaledi
• Lephalale
• Lepelle-Nkumpi
• Maruleng
• Modimolle-Mookgophong
• Mogalakwena
• Polokwane
• Thabazimbi

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba said she expected all hung municipalities to establish their councils within the next 14 days.

“Investors will only invest where there is stability,” she said.

Higher turnout, but half of voters stayed home

IEC Limpopo provincial electoral officer Nkaro Mateta said 1 468 350 of the province’s 3 037 387 registered voters cast ballots, resulting in a voter turnout of 48.31% – an improvement from 44.2% in the 2021 local government elections.

Even so, more than half of registered voters did not cast a ballot.

“The biggest losers are those who say they are not going to vote,” Ramathuba said, urging residents to participate in future elections.

Maruleng recorded the province’s highest voter turnout at 58.20%, while Fetakgomo Tubatse had the lowest at 44.11%.

ANC remains the largest party

The five largest parties in Limpopo were:

• ANC – 55.17% of the vote (685 seats)
• EFF – 11.36% (139 seats)
• DA – 8.27% (104 seats)
• ActionSA – 4.65% (55 seats)
• SACP – 4.22% (59 seats)

A total of 18 058 candidates from 127 political parties and 106 independent candidates contested 1 380 council seats across the province.

Only one independent candidate, Sello Harrolt Magabane, was elected after winning Ward 10 in Maruleng.

Spoiled ballots accounted for 1.87% of votes cast.

One of the election’s more unusual outcomes occurred in Ward 5 in Ba-Phalaborwa, where two candidates received the same number of votes. In line with the Municipal Structures Act, the result was decided by a coin toss agreed to by both candidates, with the ANC’s Mpho Rampyapedi declared the winner over the ActionSA candidate.

Service delivery now under the spotlight

Ramathuba praised the IEC, election officials and law enforcement agencies for delivering what she described as largely peaceful elections.

“What stands out above all else is the unwavering courage and resilience of the IEC here in Limpopo,” she said.

She also commended IEC provincial electoral officer Nkaro Mateta for overseeing the successful management and counting of votes across all 3 315 voting districts.

Ramathuba also commended provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers for remaining actively involved in election operations throughout the voting and counting process.

Mateta said police intervened after a group surrounded a voting station in Ward 24 in Tzaneen as officials prepared to begin counting votes. Election officials sealed the ballot boxes and moved them to the IEC’s Tzaneen office, where the count was completed the following day under police protection. She said Scheepers was personally present to oversee the security operation.

New councils urged to deliver

Ramathuba said the election results highlighted residents’ expectations for better service delivery.

“The critical need for reliable water, better roads, jobs, economic opportunities and consistent communication from elected leaders has been made clear,” she said.

She warned that the next five years “must not be business as usual” and urged councillors to “say thank you with service delivery”.