ANC loses control of three municipalities hit by list blunder
The ANC lost its majority in Mangaung, uMshwathi and Walter Sisulu, all affected by its August candidate list error. The party kept other affected municipalities but with reduced support, and its head of elections called the decline a major concern.
In Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, the ANC won 33.69% of the vote, down from 50.63% in 2021. In uMshwathi Local Municipality, its share fell to 32.61% from 58.86%, and the MK Party won the municipality from the ANC. In Walter Sisulu Local Municipality, the ANC took 47.53% after all votes were counted.
ANC head of elections Mdumiseni Ntuli said support fell almost across the board and the decline could not be viewed in isolation. He said the party did not expect to drop below 50% plus one in Mangaung. He said the ANC would assess the effect of the candidate registration problems.
About 181 ANC candidates were excluded from its list of nominated candidates before the Constitutional Court judgment. Political analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela said the failure to submit names on time was a symptom of internal problems, and the full story was yet to be told. He said the ANC's national performance was shaped by both internal problems and outside factors.
Key facts
- Who
- Mdumiseni Ntuli (ANC head of elections and party chief whip); Fikile Mbalula (ANC secretary-general); Mpumelelo Mkhabela (political analyst); African National Congress (party whose candidate list blunder cost it municipal control)
- What
- The ANC lost majority control of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, uMshwathi Local Municipality and Walter Sisulu Local Municipality, which were affected by its candidate list blunder, while retaining other affected municipalities with reduced support. ANC head of elections Mdumiseni Ntuli said the decline was a major concern and the party would assess the impact of the candidate registration…
- When
- 6 November 2026
- Where
- Mangaung, uMshwathi, Walter Sisulu
- Status
- Reported