2026 Elections | Municipal polls send a warning shot to parties ahead of 2029: Analyst

Governance expert, Leo Maphosa, says traditional parties should treat the 2026 Local Government Elections as a warning ahead of 2029.

Maphosa says introspection without reform is merely political theatre.

His remarks come after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) declared the 2026 election results yesterday, with 137 municipalities hung and coalition negotiations now expected to follow.

The top three political parties, the African National Congress, which received 30.89% of the vote and secured 3,164 council seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 24.60% of the vote and 1,527 council seats and MK Party, with 9.61% votes and 701 council seats.

The results show that the ANC achieved outright control in 51 municipalities and is the leading party in 120 municipalities. The DA achieved outright control in 12 municipalities and is
the leading party in 29 municipalities.

The IFP achieved outright control in five municipalities and is the leading party in 19 municipalities. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party achieved outright control in three municipalities and is the leading party in 18 municipalities. In fifth place, Rise Tsantsabane Communities achieved outright control in one municipality.

COGTA minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says the official 2026 Local Government Election results will be gazetted on Wednesday, after which parties will have 14 days to constitute governments.

The minister says the guidelines for navigating the hung municipalities can be expected on Tuesday.

Maphosa warns that coalition talks must not become a recruitment fair for political careers.

“A mayoral chain and a collection of MMC positions do not constitute a municipal recovery plan. Municipal contracts must never become the currency with which political loyalty is purchased.”

Maphosa says electoral gains are borrowed trust.

“Parties that have advanced must repay that confidence with utmost diligence and competence. The public dividend must be functioning services, not an expanded political payroll. Voters have changed the balance of power; parties must now change the experience of being governed.

“If egos and short-term positions outrank credible programmes and institutional reform, a more radical redistribution of power becomes a real possibility. Introspection without reform is merely political theatre.”

Maphosa added that Gauteng’s political arithmetic is unforgiving.

“In Tshwane, the DA and ActionSA together have enough seats to exclude the ANC. In Ekurhuleni, the ANC, ActionSA and EFF together reach the majority needed to exclude the DA. The ANC and DA could also govern together in all three metros. Every combination must explain what it offers residents beyond another rearrangement of political chairs.”

Meanwhile, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, has made it clear that the party will speak to all political parties, adding that it will approach coalition talks with much-needed respect and humility.

Action SA has echoed these sentiments, saying it will speak to all parties and have so far approached the DA and ANC.

ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, says the party has also began talks with a number of parties, but is prepared to take its place on the opposition benches as coalition talks are set to dominate the political scene.

The EFF has also indicated that it is open to speaking to all political parties, except the DA and FF Plus.

Meanwhile, MK Party Deputy President, Duduzane Zuma, says the party doesn’t believe the election results should be declared while outstanding disputes remain unresolved.

His remarks comes as the IEC confirmed that it is dealing with several objections, recounts in five wards and a re-vote in the Northern Cape, where a voting station was allegedly stormed by supporters of a political party.

Despite this, the 2026 polls have been declared free and fair.

The results are out! The 2026 Local Government Elections have reached a significant milestone with the IEC officially announcing the results.

Thank you to every voter who turned out, every election official who served & stakeholders who contributed to the delivery of elections. https://t.co/w5HkdwsCl5

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 8, 2026

HOW MUNICIPAL COUNCIL SEATS ARE CALCULATED AND ALLOCATED

With the results now declared and council seats allocated, the votes cast by South Africans have been translated into representation in municipal councils.

#Wozalge2026 #LGE2026 #Electionreaults https://t.co/YTNEasq4qO

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 9, 2026

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza