Mbalula Defends Party Footprint: ‘The ANC Remains the Largest Political Party in South Africa’
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has declared that the ANC remains South Africa’s largest political organization despite a severely challenging showing in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Speaking from the Electoral Commission’s (IEC) National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, Mbalula addressed the media as ballot tallies neared completion across the country’s nine provinces.
He sought to reaffirm the party’s foundational standing amid projections indicating historically low margins for the governing party.
The 2026 municipal elections have delivered a chastening blow to the ANC, with national projections putting its support at roughly 32%—a significant slide from the 45.59% it secured during the previous municipal polls in 2021.
While the party maintains a national lead in the overall proportional ballot count, early numbers indicate it has lost outright control of major economic hubs.
It is not currently on course to win a majority in any of South Africa’s eight metropolitan areas. In Johannesburg, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has carved out a substantial early lead, leaving the ANC trailing in second.
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has thoroughly realigned the political terrain, pushing the ANC to a distant third place in the province and major metros like eThekwini.
Despite the steep downward trend and the fragmenting of the traditional liberation alliance base, Mbalula firmly pushed back against narratives that the party is in terminal collapse.
He emphasized that the ANC’s structural presence, nationwide branch networks, and enduring support base mean it continues to command the largest national footprint in South Africa’s democratic ecosystem.
With a highly fragmented electorate steering the nation into unprecedented, widespread coalition governance, Mbalula noted that the ANC remains focused on its institutional performance rather than individual leadership disputes.
The final, verified local government election outcomes are expected to be formally announced by the IEC on Sunday night.
