Developing story: these are partial results. Counting continues and the IEC has not declared final outcomes.
The DA is leading in Ekurhuleni on about 41% of votes counted so far, with ActionSA on 18.1% and the ANC on 16.8%, according to partial results reported on Friday morning. The ANC won 38.2% in the metro in 2021.
The numbers so far
- Ekurhuleni: DA about 41%, ActionSA 18.1%, ANC 16.8% (ANC 38.2% in 2021).
- Johannesburg: the ANC is running third among votes counted so far; it had 33.6% in 2021.
- Tshwane: ActionSA was second with almost 22% by 8pm, up from 8.6% in 2021, when the ANC had 34.3%.
We have not been able to confirm what share of Ekurhuleni's voting districts these figures cover, so they may move as the count progresses.
What it means for coalitions
On the partial figures, 41% is short of an outright majority, so the DA would need partners to govern the metro. ActionSA and the ANC are the next two parties on these numbers.
Louw Nel, a senior political analyst at Oxford Economics, projects the DA will finish first in at least five of the country's eight metros. "The DA finds itself in a strong negotiating position in Gauteng," Nel said. He also said: "Early results suggest a chastening day for the ANC."
ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said at the IEC's results centre that the party does not see itself as one that would disappear, and that the outcome presented an opportunity to repackage.
What we do not yet know
- The share of votes counted in Ekurhuleni at the time of these figures.
- How votes translate into council seats once ward and proportional results are combined.
- Which parties will talk to each other; no coalition agreement has been announced.
- When the IEC will declare final results. It has said it hopes to do so by the weekend.
