RC 261105Cape TalkClarence Ford
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Early counts showed the DA dominating the Western Cape while the Patriotic Alliance broke through in Prince Albert, with hung councils and coalition talks looming across the country.
- 10:09
With early counts in, the DA led the Western Cape at 54.03%, ahead of the ANC at 13.64% and the PA at 11.04%, though many votes remained outstanding at the time.
- 09:02
The Patriotic Alliance snatched Prince Albert from the DA, winning five of the 10 council seats, up from a single seat in 2021, according to early results reported by Eyewitness News.
- 11:02
Provincial DA leader Tertius Simmers said the party had won back wards it lost before, including Drakenstein Ward 27 and Stellenbosch Ward 16 from rivals.
- 11:02
Early indications suggest the DA won an outright majority in the Northern Cape mining town of Kathu, which would make it the first DA-controlled municipality in that province.
- 09:53
Newly elected councils must meet within 14 days of the IEC declaring results, electing a speaker, mayor and deputy mayor, with the declaration expected around the weekend.