ActionSA eyes greater influence in Gauteng metros as preliminary results show gains

ActionSA has welcomed its performance in Gauteng’s three metropolitan municipalities, with preliminary IEC results placing the party among the leading contenders in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

The party says the early figures reflect growing voter confidence following two years of rebuilding after its disappointing performance in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, says the party is willing to enter coalition negotiations with all political parties, with its focus on securing what it describes as the strongest possible leadership for the province’s metros.

“The people of South Africa, the people of Gauteng, they’ve said they want to entrust Action SA with the responsibility to fix our province, to fix our metros. And we don’t take that lightly. I think when we go in and lead in those metros, we will definitely lead on their behalf. We will be accountable. We will make sure that whatever that we’re committed to do, that we try almost to really fulfill them.”

Ngobeni says the party hopes to replicate its governance approach in Tshwane in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, should it get the opportunity to lead.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it remains confident in its support base, despite currently polling at around six percent on the Gauteng results leaderboard.

EFF Gauteng Chairperson, Nkululeko Dunga, says the party went into the elections with the ambition of securing more than 50 percent of the vote, but believes it is too early to assess its performance while counting and verification are still underway.

Dunga says the party remains open to engaging other political parties, arguing that all parties have a responsibility to ensure municipalities are governed effectively.

“The EFF has always, at the establishment of governance and governance structures, always spoke that there must be an establishment of structures and governance, whether the EFF forms part of those governance structures or not.”

The IEC says counting has continued through the night, with results from completed voting stations undergoing capturing, auditing and verification before being reflected on the official leaderboard.

The commission has reported a national voter turnout of approximately 15.9 million, nearly four million more than in the 2021 Local Government Elections.

Final election results are expected to be announced nationally on Sunday.

COUNTING & RESULTS CAPTURING

RESULTS UPDATE-09H00
*66,073 results slips expected nationwide.
*35.5% scanned into the results system.
*22,983 captured.
*16,791 independently audited.
*7% local municipalities have completed the results process.

Results: https://t.co/kn9nVx1bZd https://t.co/e2kZMcSkaG

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 5, 2026

SA Local Government Election results (17:16, 5 Nov)

National (45% counted)

• ANC: 31.96%
• DA: 26.84%
• MKP: 7.2%
—-
City of Cape Town (35% counted)

• DA: 60.69%
• ANC: 10.75%
• PA: 4.02%
—-
City of Johannesburg (24% counted)

• DA: 37.47%
• ANC: 17.73%
• ActionSA: 16.83%
—-
City of Tshwane (34% counted)

• DA: 34.58%
• ActionSA: 22.52%
• ANC: 20.02%
—-
Ekurhuleni (34% counted)

• DA: 35.63%
• ANC: 19.3%
• ActionSA: 16.31%
—-
Mangaung (34% counted)

• ANC: 33.55%
• DA: 33.55%
• EFF: 8.93%
—-
Nelson Mandela Bay (44% counted)

• DA: 40.76%
• ANC: 27.2%
• EFF: 4.82%
—-
Buffalo City (68% counted)

• ANC: 39.07%
• DA: 20.43%
• UDM: 17.77%
—-
eThekwini (6% counted)

• MKP: 39.94%
• DA: 23.35%
• ANC: 18.86%

— Ofentse Donald Davhie (@DonaldDavhie) November 5, 2026

Latest official results from South Africa’s local elections, with 44% of votes counted: https://t.co/LL61g1VbsV

— Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) November 5, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe