The African National Congress appears set for a heavy defeat in South Africa’s local elections. With more than 80% of ballots counted, the once-dominant party of Nelson Mandela has fallen to under a third of the national vote.
The party’s share is almost 14 percentage points below its 2021 result, extending its decline. Wednesday’s vote was fragmented, marking another stage in that slide.
The ANC has led national governments since the end of white minority apartheid rule in 1994. High unemployment, crime, corruption and poor local service delivery are among the factors behind voters turning away from the party.
