The ANC's Worst Night Since Mandela: South Africa's Ruling Party Falls to 31%

South Africa's liberation movement won the most votes in local elections but called the result "catastrophic." Its share fell by a third since 2021 as voters punished broken water, power and services. Coalition deals now decide who runs the big cities.

By Clara Hughes

South Africa's African National Congress has recorded its worst-ever showing in local elections since Nelson Mandela led the country out of apartheid more than 30 years ago, the BBC reported. The party still won the most votes. But its share fell to 30.76%, according to Electoral Commission results reported by Xinhua — down more than 14 percentage points from 2021. Twenty years ago, it won 65%. "This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC," said party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. "The middle class have turned on the ANC in big