Developing story: these figures are early, partial and will change as more voting districts are counted.

Early Electoral Commission (IEC) figures put the DA in front in Johannesburg and ActionSA in front in Tshwane, with the ANC second in Tshwane and third or second in Johannesburg depending on the snapshot. Only a fraction of districts had been counted at the time of writing.

According to IEC figures at about 9:42am on Thursday, 85 of Johannesburg's 862 voting districts, about 10%, had been counted. In Tshwane, 95 of 796 districts, about 12%, were in.

Johannesburg: DA ahead

In the IEC figures at that time, the DA had 40.33% of the votes counted in Johannesburg, the ANC 16.77%, ActionSA 15.46%, the EFF 6.22% and the MK Party 4.38%. An earlier snapshot, taken when about 5% of districts were counted, showed different shares and a different order between the ANC and ActionSA. That gap is a reminder of how much early figures move.

Tshwane: ActionSA narrowly ahead

In Tshwane, IEC figures at about 9:42am showed ActionSA on 29.01%, the ANC on 28.08%, the DA on 19.32%, the EFF on 7.05% and the Freedom Front Plus on 4.53%. The two leading parties were separated by less than one percentage point.

The national picture

At about 9:46am, the IEC figures showed 23% of voting districts counted nationally, with the ANC on 31.68% and the DA on 29.68% of the votes counted so far. These are shares of the counted votes in the districts reporting, not a forecast of the final outcome.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said around 14.5 million voters cast ballots, including about 1.5 million special votes. The commission has said it hopes to announce final results by the weekend.

What we do not yet know

  • Which districts remain outstanding, and whether they favour any party. Results from different parts of a metro can differ sharply.
  • The final seat allocations. Under proportional representation, vote share translates into council seats only once counting is complete.
  • Whether any party will lodge objections that could affect the timing of the final declaration.

Insight Factor will update this story as the IEC releases further figures.