The African National Congress (ANC) retains 161 municipalities across the country in the 2021 Local government elections.
The ANC national support dropped from 53.91% in the 2016 local government elections to 46.04% in this year’s polls.
Out of 26.1 million registered South African voters, only 12.3 million made their voices heard at the polls.
The Electoral Commission has released the outcomes of the local polls at the IEC’s Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Pretoria on Thursday evening.
GRAPHIC: How political parties have fared in #Ekurhuleni in 2021, compared to 2011 and 2016. #ElectionResults2021 #LGE2021 pic.twitter.com/v2jJCJajTv pic.twitter.com/LKcTxpY4sn pic.twitter.com/J1gdmIiRbm
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 4, 2021
IEC Chairperson Glen Mashinini says “The Democratic Alliance (DA) achieved a majority in 13 municipalities, and the Inkatha Freedom Party achieved a majority in 10 municipalities.”
The Commission’s chairperson Mashinini adds that in 66 municipalities no political party had an outright majority.
The DA’s national support also declined from 26.9% in the 2016’s elections to 21.84% in 2021.
At least over 1 500 candidates were vying for positions in over 250 councils across the country.
IEC announces the 2021 Local Government Elections results:
Digital solutions
The IEC says the Local Government Election was not just about participation but also much about the introduction of digital solutions in the electoral process.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says the use of new technology took the country’s electoral management to new heights.
Ramaphosa thanks SA for voting
President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked South Africans for voting in the recently concluded local government elections. These were the sixth local polls since 1994.
President Ramaphosa also implored all elected representatives to work together to improve the living conditions of South Africans irrespective of their political affiliation.
He said this is a testimony that the country’s democracy is coming of age.
President Ramaphosa’s remarks following election results announcement:
