RC 261105702Clement Manyathela
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Day one of vote counting at the IEC results centre in Midrand, dominated by early signs of a sharp ANC slide, possible hung councils and strong DA gains in Cape Town.
- 09:49
The CSIR projects the ANC will finish near 30% nationally and the DA around 24%, with turnout near 52%, based on the votes counted so far.
- 11:50
DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says results point to about 58% of the vote in Cape Town, and he is set to declare victory at a midday briefing.
- 09:04
Early counting suggests the number of hung councils nationally could more than double, with no party likely to win an outright majority in the capital, Tshwane.
- 09:38
ActionSA chair Michael Beaumont says party agents show at least 30 wards won from the ANC in Gauteng townships, though those numbers are not yet on the leaderboard.
- 09:32
Early indications show the DA may have won an outright majority in Kathu, Northern Cape, which would make it the first DA-controlled municipality in the province.