South Africa's Political Parties: A Voter's Guide to the 2026 Local Elections

South Africans go back to the polls on 4 November 2026 to elect the councillors who run their towns, cities and metros. Local elections decide who fixes the potholes, keeps the water flowing and signs off the municipal budget, so the parties on the ballot matter in a very practical, day to day way. This guide walks through the main players, who leads them, where they stand and how they did when the country last voted nationally in 2024.

We have kept the focus on the parties most likely to shape councils and coalitions. South Africa has more than 300 registered parties, so a full list is neither possible nor useful. The aim here is a plain, even handed snapshot, not an endorsement of anyone.

How the ground shifted in 2024

The 2024 national election was a turning point. For the first time since democracy arrived in 1994, the African National Congress lost its outright majority, dropping to just over 40 percent. No single party could govern alone, so the ANC formed a Government of National Unity, a broad coalition that now includes ten parties. That arrangement holds at national level, but local councils are negotiated town by town, which is why the 2026 vote is being watched so closely.

Here is how the seats fell in the 400 member National Assembly in 2024.

How municipal elections actually work

Local elections are not quite the same as national ones, and it helps to know the basics before you vote. How many ballots you get depends on where you live. In the eight big metros you cast two votes, a ward vote and a proportional party vote. In the other municipalities you usually cast three, adding a separate vote for the wider district council. The ward vote lets you choose one councillor for your neighbourhood, and the candidate with the most votes wins that ward outright. The proportional party vote tops up the council so the overall mix of seats matches each party's share of support.

Add those together and you get a municipal council. The councillors then elect a mayor and an executive, which is why no party needs an absolute majority of the vote to take charge. A party or a coalition simply needs more than half the seats in the council chamber. That is how a city can change hands even when the largest party falls short, and it is why coalition deals have become such a feature of South African local government. A councillor's job is close to home, covering water and electricity connections, refuse removal, roads, parks, building plans and the local budget.

The bigger parties

African National Congress (ANC)

Founded in 1912, the ANC is the oldest liberation movement in the country and has governed nationally since the first democratic election in 1994. It is led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Its support is national rather than regional, though it has slipped in the cities. After losing its majority in 2024 the ANC now leads the Government of National Unity, and it heads into the local elections defending councils it has run for decades while trying to win back voters who drifted to newer parties.

Democratic Alliance (DA)

The DA was formed in 2000 and grew out of the older Democratic Party tradition. For years it was the official opposition, and since 2024 it has been the second largest party in the national coalition. It governs the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town, where it points to service delivery as its calling card. In April 2026 the party elected a new federal leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, who remains the mayor of Cape Town. The DA's challenge in 2026 is to grow beyond its traditional base into the larger metros.

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK)

MK is the newcomer that reshaped the last election. Launched only in 2023 and led by former president Jacob Zuma, it took third place in 2024 on the strength of huge support in KwaZulu-Natal. It sits in opposition rather than in the national coalition. Whether MK can translate that surge of support into the grind of municipal politics is one of the big questions of 2026.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)

Founded in 2013 by Julius Malema, the EFF campaigns on the left, calling for land redistribution and a bigger state role in the economy. It is known for its red overalls and its combative style in Parliament. The party drew just under 10 percent in 2024 and sits in opposition. It has often held the balance of power in hung metros, which makes it an important player in local coalition talks even where it does not win outright.

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)

The IFP, founded in 1975 and now led by Velenkosini Hlabisa, has deep roots in KwaZulu-Natal. It joined the Government of National Unity in 2024 and has been growing again in its home province as the ANC has weakened there. In many KZN councils the IFP is the party others must work with to build a majority.

Patriotic Alliance (PA)

The Patriotic Alliance was founded in 2013 and is led by Gayton McKenzie, who serves as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in the national coalition. The party has built strong support in coloured communities in the Western and Northern Cape and campaigns on a tough law and order message. It is one of the faster growing of the mid sized parties and is now part of the Government of National Unity.

Smaller parties worth knowing

Several smaller parties punch above their seat count, especially in tight local councils where a handful of seats can decide who runs a city.

Freedom Front Plus (FF+) focuses on minority and Afrikaner community rights. It is now led by Corné Mulder, who took over in early 2025 after Pieter Groenewald stepped down to serve as a cabinet minister. The party is part of the national coalition.

ActionSA, founded in 2020 by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, has put its energy into the big metros and runs on a clean governance and pro jobs platform. It remains in opposition nationally.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), led by Kenneth Meshoe, is a long standing party built around Christian values and a socially conservative outlook.

The United Democratic Movement (UDM), led by Bantu Holomisa since its founding in 1997, has its base in the Eastern Cape and is part of the national coalition.

Three smaller parties in the political centre, Build One South Africa under Mmusi Maimane, RISE Mzansi under Songezo Zibi and GOOD under Patricia de Lille, announced a merger called Unite for Change in late 2025. They later decided the structures could not be combined in time, so they will contest the 2026 local elections separately while still cooperating in places such as Cape Town.

What to watch on 4 November

The real drama in 2026 will be in the metros. Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini and Nelson Mandela Bay have all seen unstable coalitions and frequent changes of mayor in recent years. With no party expected to sweep these cities outright, the result is likely to turn on which parties can strike workable deals after the votes are counted. Smaller parties and independents could once again hold the keys.

Whatever your view, the single most important step is making sure you can vote. Check that you are registered at your correct address through the Electoral Commission at elections.org.za, and keep an eye on the official registration weekends in the run up to the poll. A council is only as good as the people who turn out to choose it.

Not sure how to weigh up your choices? Try our free Local Vote Helper, a quick private tool that walks you through what your ballots decide, who is really responsible for the issues you care about, and the questions to ask any candidate, without ever telling you who to vote for.

This guide reflects the political landscape as of June 2026 and will be updated as parties confirm their candidates and campaigns for the local elections.