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Newsbrief

CSIR projects ANC leads early local election count

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) projects the ANC at around 31.7% and the DA at 25.8% nationally, based on 13% of voting districts declared. It puts the MKP at around 9%.

CSIR representative Pravesh Debba presented the first national picture prediction for the 2026 Local Government Election. He projected the EFF at around 6% and Action SA at around 5%.

The CSIR said the projection uses only the results available so far. It said the picture will change as more voting districts are declared.

Key facts

Who
Pravesh Debba (CSIR representative who presented the prediction); Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (organisation making the projections); African National Congress (party projected to lead); Democratic Alliance (party projected in second place)
What
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) released its first national picture prediction for the 2026 Local Government Election, based on results from 13% of voting districts. It projects the ANC leading, followed by the DA and the MKP, and cautions that the picture will change as more voting districts are declared.
When
5 November 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

Elections Hot

What you need to know

Counting in the 2026 local government elections continues, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa will declare final results on Sunday. With 56% of voting districts counted, the ANC leads nationally with 31%, the DA has 25% and the MK Party is third.

The DA appears to have won majority control in Cape Town, and leader Geordin Hill-Lewis plans a significant announcement in Midrand on Friday. Early results point to a more fragmented vote, and ActionSA, the DA, the ANC and the EFF said they are open to coalition talks.

Earlier, police said they recorded 85 incidents and registered 57 case dockets on voting day, and the Independent Electoral Commission said a party tore up at least 100 ballots in the Northern Cape.

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Elsewhere, an AI chip investment scheme that recruited South Africans on social media went offline on 30 October, leaving members unable to withdraw money.

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US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the US midterm elections on 3 November, with at least a 54-44 Senate majority and at least 30 House seats gained. Exit polls showed voters angry about high prices and the direction of the country, and the result was a rebuke of President Donald Trump.

Trump said the Iran war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon, but admitted it contributed to Republican losses, while Vice-President JD Vance said the war was the reason. Markets reacted, with the JSE All Share Index rising almost 5% on 5 November and Brent crude falling below $100 a barrel as investors hoped for an end to the war.

Earlier, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the result would introduce a new era in world relations, while some leaders warned of political gridlock in Washington.

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