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ANC leads early local election results in Eastern Cape

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

Early counting in the local government elections puts the ANC ahead in the Eastern Cape and in Buffalo City Metro, with the DA second in the metro at 21%. Parties said it is too early to call.

With 26% of voting districts declared in the Eastern Cape, a prediction model from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) puts the ANC just under 48% and the DA at 18%. The model puts the EFF at 5.53%. CSIR representative Jabu Mtsweni said a party needs 50% to control a council, so the ANC needs about 2% more. Early counting in the province showed the ANC at 47%.

In Buffalo City Metro, with just over 20% of votes counted, the ANC had 38% and the DA 21%. The United Democratic Movement was third at 18%, and the South African Communist Party was fourth at 5%. ActionSA had 1%.

ActionSA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip said his party would work with any party in a coalition once the final votes are tallied. He said many people still vote for the ANC out of habit.

DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Hellen Zille said early results, including rural votes in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga, were encouraging for the DA. Early national figures put the DA at 30.41% and the ANC at 31%.

Key facts

Who
Athol Trollip (ActionSA provincial leader in the Eastern Cape); African National Congress (party leading early results in Buffalo City Metro and the Eastern Cape); Democratic Alliance (party in second place in Buffalo City Metro); United Democratic Movement (party in third place in Buffalo City Metro)
What
Early local government election counting results put the ANC ahead in Buffalo City Metro and in the Eastern Cape overall, with parties warning it is too early to call. ActionSA's Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip said his party, at 1%, would be willing to work with any party in a coalition.
When
5 November 2026
Where
Buffalo City Metro, Eastern Cape, Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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