DA Maintains Lead in Gauteng Municipal Elections 2026
Democratic Alliance holds top spot as vote counting progresses across Gauteng municipalities.
1DA Leads Gauteng Vote
The Democratic Alliance currently leads the 2026 municipal elections in Gauteng with 809,787 votes. This represents 36.4% of the total ballots counted by 18:24 on Thursday, November 5. Despite this strong position, the party's share of the vote has experienced a decline of over four percentage points since the morning update.
2ANC and ActionSA Performance
The African National Congress follows in second place with 444,842 votes, accounting for 20% of the total. ActionSA occupies the third position, securing 363,677 votes or 16.35%. ActionSA has shown growth throughout the day, increasing its share from 15.14% in the morning, narrowing the gap between itself and the ANC party.
3Shifting Electoral Margins
The lead held by the Democratic Alliance over the ANC has narrowed significantly as more ballots are processed. The gap between the two parties decreased from 21.68 percentage points in the morning to 16.4 points by evening. This shift reflects the progression of counting from 6% to 37% of total votes.
4Minor Party Standings
Further down the electoral standings, the Economic Freedom Fighters have secured 6.37% of the counted votes. They are followed closely by the Freedom Front Plus at 6.18%. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party holds 4.5%, while the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Patriotic Alliance remain at 1.13% and 1.07% respectively, reflecting a fragmented political landscape.
5Significant Outstanding Ballots
With 63% of the total votes in Gauteng still outstanding, the final results remain subject to change. Key municipalities including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni have yet to fully report their tallies. These urban centers are expected to influence the final distribution of seats and the overall outcome of the municipal election.
6Rigorous Verification Process
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo confirmed that all results undergo a double-capture process. Officials also conduct independent audits to ensure the integrity of the data before final confirmation. This systematic approach is designed to prevent errors and maintain public trust in the democratic process during the ongoing, high-stakes vote counting period.
7Official Communication Protocols
The Electoral Commission has issued a formal request for political parties and the general public to avoid spreading unverified information. Officials emphasize that the official IEC dashboard remains the only reliable source for real-time updates. This measure aims to prevent misinformation from impacting the stability of the ongoing election results process.
8Context of Municipal Governance
Municipal elections in South Africa are critical for local service delivery and governance. The outcome in Gauteng, the country's economic hub, carries significant weight for national political dynamics. As counting continues, the final seat allocations will determine the future leadership and policy direction of the province's major metropolitan and local municipalities.
Original article: The South African — DA Maintains Lead in Gauteng Municipal Elections 2026