The 2026 local government elections
South Africa elects every one of its municipal councils on 4 November 2026. This page records the position going in: who governs each council now, and what the outgoing term delivered.
92 days to go
- Councils contested
- 257
- Council seats
- 9,638
- Parties holding seats
- 186
- Coalition governed
- 55
8 metro, 44 district, 205 local
All up for election
Going into the election
No single party majority
What is being decided
Every municipal council in South Africa is elected on one day. That is 257 councils and roughly 9,638 seats, covering water, sanitation, refuse, municipal roads, storm water and, in most urban areas, electricity distribution.
In a metropolitan or local municipality you vote for a ward councillor and for a party. If your local municipality sits inside a district, you also vote for the district council. Ward boundaries were redrawn by the Municipal Demarcation Board ahead of this election, so the ward you vote in may have changed even if you have not moved.
The eight metros
Position going into the election
| Metro | Currently governed by | Seats | Largest party | Financial health |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo City | ANC | 100 | ANC 61.0% | E |
| Cape Town | DA | 231 | DA 58.0% | B |
| City of Ekurhuleni | ANC/EFF/AIC Coalition coalition | 224 | ANC 38.4% | E |
| City of Johannesburg | ANC/EFF/PA Coalition coalition | 270 | ANC 33.0% | E |
| City of Tshwane | DA/ActionSA/FF Plus/ACDP/UDM/COPE Coalition coalition | 214 | ANC 35.0% | E |
| Mangaung | ANC | 101 | ANC 50.5% | E |
| Nelson Mandela Bay | ANC/EFF/NA/AIC/PAC Coalition coalition | 120 | ANC 40.0% | D |
| eThekwini | ANC/EFF Coalition coalition | 222 | ANC 43.2% | C |
Where the seats are held now
Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections and subsequent changes
| Party | Council seats | Share of all seats |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 4,977 | 51.6% |
| DA | 1,649 | 17.1% |
| EFF | 1,080 | 11.2% |
| IFP | 617 | 6.4% |
| VF PLUS | 224 | 2.3% |
| PA | 94 | 1.0% |
| ACTIONSA | 92 | 1.0% |
| NFP | 56 | 0.6% |
| ATM | 55 | 0.6% |
| UDM | 53 | 0.5% |
| INDEPENDENT | 49 | 0.5% |
| ACDP | 48 | 0.5% |
| GOOD | 47 | 0.5% |
| AIC | 44 | 0.5% |
| F4SD | 34 | 0.4% |
Holding the most seats is not the same as governing. Where no party has a majority, government depends on which parties agree to work together.
The record of the outgoing term
National Treasury and the Auditor-General, most recent audited year
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Clean audits | 39 of 257 |
| Adverse or disclaimed audits | 13 |
| Combined annual spending | R611bn |
| Residents served | 62,026,883 |
Election coverage
- South Africa’s 2026 local government elections: what you need to know
- Coalition government in South African municipalities
- Which parties control South Africa’s municipal councils
- How to check you are registered to vote in the 2026 municipal elections
- What changed in South African local government since 2021
This site reports figures and who holds office. It does not endorse any party or candidate. Council compositions describe the position going into the election and will be updated as results are declared by the Electoral Commission.