As the provisional vote counting for the 2026 Local Government Elections progresses, a clear story is taking shape across South Africa’s municipalities. The electorate is increasingly looking beyond the traditional giants, driving shifts that are reshaping local governance in both urban hubs and regional councils. Early data highlights a expanding political footprint for emerging parties alongside a quiet outcome for long-standing alliance partners.
ActionSA Marks Strong Gains Across the Board
One of the standout developments of this election cycle is the performance of ActionSA. Moving past its initial focus on major metropolitan hubs, the party is showing significant growth and securing representation across a far broader set of local councils.
In key rural and regional councils across Limpopo, provisional figures show ActionSA making substantial inroads into PR (Proportional Representation) vote totals. In Ba-Phalaborwa, ActionSA captured 14.3% of the PR vote with over 90% of districts counted. Similar strength appears in Greater Letaba (14.0%) and Greater Tzaneen (10.7%), where the party has pulled ahead of traditional opposition entities to position itself as a central player in council debates. Across Western Cape and Gauteng municipalities, ActionSA has likewise claimed key wards and council seats, proving its strategy to build nationwide presence is taking root.
SACP Fails to Make Noise on the Ballot
In contrast to ActionSA’s visible expansion, the South African Communist Party (SACP) has struggled to convert its historical political lineage into local electoral power. Having maintained a low profile throughout the campaign trail, the party’s presence on the final voting share remains largely invisible across the country.
While the SACP continues to operate within the broader Tripartite Alliance structure, its standalone footprint on local ballot papers continues to yield minimal council representation. As voters seek direct municipal accountability and local service delivery solutions, quiet campaign strategies have left the party sidelined in early council calculations.
Regional Spotlights: Pressure on Majority Control
The provisional figures from Limpopo highlight a broader trend: while the African National Congress (ANC) continues to lead the vote share in many northern councils, its margins are tightening, creating room for hung councils and coalition governance.
- Greater Giyani: The ANC leads the PR vote with 59.8% at the half-way mark of counting, followed by Mayibuye at 19.4% and the EFF at 4.9%.
- Greater Letaba: With 48% of districts counted, the ANC sits at 61.9%, while ActionSA holds second position at 14.0%, clear of the EFF (7.8%) and the DA (3.8%).
- Ba-Phalaborwa: With 91% of districts counted, the ANC holds 44.3%, while the DA (16.3%) and ActionSA (14.3%) head up a fragmented opposition field.
- Greater Tzaneen: At 44% of districts tallied, the ANC leads with 64.2%, followed by ActionSA at 10.7%, the EFF at 8.9%, and the DA at 6.7%.
- Maruleng: Counting is fully complete (100% of districts in), revealing a hung council where no party achieved the 14-seat threshold needed for a majority. The ANC took 13 seats, leaving it just one seat short of an outright win, while the DA and EFF secured 3 seats each.
As final district results wrap up across the country, these provisional standings point toward a more diverse municipal landscape where smaller parties and new entries will play a pivotal role in forming local coalitions.