South African voters cast ballots in municipal elections amid service failures

South African voters went to the polls on November 4, 2026, choosing new leaders for nearly 300 municipalities. Many voters said they were angry about poor public services. Common complaints included water shortages, power cuts, bad roads, high unemployment and rising crime.

A poll by Ipsos suggested the ANC would win around 30 percent of votes, down from 46 percent in 2021. The DA was projected to receive 25 percent, up from 22 percent. The ANC has ruled South Africa since 1994, but has lost support in recent years because of corruption and failing services.

Municipal governments are responsible for water, electricity and rubbish collection. In some neighbourhoods, residents formed their own security groups because they felt unsafe. About 29 million people were registered to vote.