South Africa votes in municipal elections amid violence and ANC decline
South Africans head to the polls in high-stakes municipal elections that will test the ruling ANC amid political violence, water shortages, and rising opposition parties.
At a glance
- Voters across South Africa are casting ballots on Wednesday in municipal elections to choose local councillors and mayors.
- An opposition uMkhonto weSizwe Party organiser was shot dead in KwaZulu-Natal, prompting a police murder investigation.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa recently deployed soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal due to political violence risks.
- Opinion polls suggest the governing African National Congress could face further electoral decline.
Voters across South Africa headed to the polls on Wednesday for municipal elections that will determine local leadership and test the continued electoral decline of the governing African National Congress. The vote takes place under the shadow of mounting political violence, infrastructure failures, and widespread public frustration over basic services like water and electricity.
Police reported that an organiser from the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Lastborn Shazi, was shot dead at his home in KwaZulu-Natal while coordinating a campaign call. Senior police spokesman Robert Netshiunda stated that an investigation had been opened into the killing, adding to a reported tally of 20 politically linked murders during the election period.
Security and service delivery concerns
More than 500 soldiers were sent to KwaZulu-Natal by President Cyril Ramaphosa to support law enforcement prior to the election. Authorities identified over 165 polling stations in the province as high-risk areas.
Voters are also motivated by severe local infrastructure challenges, including frequent power cuts and water rationing. Ferrial Adam, executive director of WaterCAN, noted that many drinking water systems and wastewater treatment works face critical shortages and maintenance failures across the country.
Political stakes for the governing party
The municipal elections serve as a major indicator of public sentiment toward the ANC, which has seen its historic dominance weaken in recent years. After losing its parliamentary majority in 2024, the party faces predictions from researchers like Ipsos that its support could fall further, potentially leading to more coalition-run local governments. Meanwhile, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, aims to challenge the ANC in key urban centres like the eThekwini metropolitan area.
What to watch: Watch for final municipal vote counts and whether coalition arrangements emerge in major metropolitan areas.
Reporting from: Al Jazeera, DW, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, BBC News. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- South Africa elections
- ANC
- uMkhonto weSizwe Party
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Jacob Zuma
- South Africa
- Politics