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Parties · 20 with seats in the Assembly or the councils

Eighteen parties
in one Assembly.

Closed-list proportional representation and no threshold beyond the quota let small parties in: 18 won seats in the National Assembly on 29 May 2024, when the ANC fell to 40,2% and lost the majority it had held since 1994. Ten parties then formed the Government of National Unity. In the local elections of 4 November 2026 the count is at 69% of voting districts (6 November 2026, 03:04 SAST).

Government of National Unity · June 2024

287 of 400 seats
in government.

Left of the gap: the ten parties of the statement of intent (ANC, DA, IFP, PA, VF+, UDM, Rise, Al Jama-ah, PAC, GOOD). The UAT signed and withdrew in July 2024; the MK party is the largest party outside it. A majority is 201.

The parties

"Councils 2026" is the party's share of the ward and PR votes counted so far in the 213 metro and local councils, and the seats declared so far (6 November 2026, 03:04 SAST); district councils are not included. Family labels are our own short description of each party's tradition. Leaders: Parliament, party statements and news reports (see sources); photos from Wikimedia Commons where a free portrait names the person.

Opinion polls since the 2024 election

What the polls said,
what the count says.

Each dot is one published national poll (national-election or local-election question), placed at the middle of its fieldwork. On the left, the 2024 national ballot; on the right, the 2026 local count so far. Local votes and national voting intention are not the same question, and the count is not finished.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Jul 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026 ANC 2024 national ballot: 40,2%DA 2024 national ballot: 21,8%MK 2024 national ballot: 14,6%EFF 2024 national ballot: 9,5%IFP 2024 national ballot: 3,8%ActionSA 2024 national ballot: 1,2%PA 2024 national ballot: 2,1%VF+ 2024 national ballot: 1,4% ANC 45% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source DA 24% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source MK 12% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source EFF 6% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source IFP 5% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source PA 5% · Social Research Foundation, 30 September 2024 (national question), secondary source ANC 41,3% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) DA 22,3% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) MK 11,6% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) EFF 6,9% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) IFP 5,5% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) PA 3,7% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) VF+ 1,8% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) ActionSA 0% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 31 October 2024 (national question) ANC 32% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source DA 25% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source MK 12% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source EFF 6% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source IFP 3% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source PA 3% · Social Research Foundation, 28 February 2025 (national question), secondary source ANC 43% · Brenthurst Foundation (SABI Strategy), 11 March 2025 (national question) DA 27% · Brenthurst Foundation (SABI Strategy), 11 March 2025 (national question) MK 11% · Brenthurst Foundation (SABI Strategy), 11 March 2025 (national question) EFF 7% · Brenthurst Foundation (SABI Strategy), 11 March 2025 (national question) ANC 29,7% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) DA 30,3% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) MK 15,9% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) EFF 10,2% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) IFP 1,7% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) PA 1,7% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) VF+ 0,4% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) ActionSA 2,9% · South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), 3 April 2025 (national question) ANC 40% · Social Research Foundation, 30 June 2025 (national question), secondary source DA 26% · Social Research Foundation, 30 June 2025 (national question), secondary source ANC 37% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 14 November 2025 (local question) DA 32% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 14 November 2025 (local question) MK 8% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 14 November 2025 (local question) EFF 7% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 14 November 2025 (local question) IFP 6% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 14 November 2025 (local question) ANC 38% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) DA 22% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) MK 14% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) EFF 12% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) ActionSA 4% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) IFP 3% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) PA 3% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) VF+ 2% · Ipsos, 31 January 2026 (local question) ANC 39% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 6 March 2026 (local question) DA 28% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 6 March 2026 (local question) MK 10% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 6 March 2026 (local question) EFF 6% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 6 March 2026 (local question) ANC 31% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) DA 25% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) MK 14% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) EFF 11% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) ActionSA 6% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) IFP 3% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) PA 2% · Ipsos, 31 July 2026 (local question) ANC 34% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) DA 27% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) MK 15% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) EFF 7% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) IFP 5% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) VF+ 3% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 31 July 2026 (local question) ANC 31,6% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source DA 25,2% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source MK 14,7% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source EFF 12,2% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source IFP 3,5% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source VF+ 3,2% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source ActionSA 2,9% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source PA 2,4% · SABI Strategy Group / News24, 30 September 2026 (local question), secondary source ANC 32% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 12 October 2026 (local question) DA 26% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 12 October 2026 (local question) MK 12% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 12 October 2026 (local question) EFF 8% · Social Research Foundation / The Common Sense (Victory Research), 12 October 2026 (local question) ANC 30% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) DA 28% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) MK 12% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) EFF 10% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) IFP 4% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) ActionSA 4% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) PA 2% · Ipsos, 13 October 2026 (local question) ANC 31,7% DA 24,9% MK 8,8% EFF 6,1% ActionSA 4,8% IFP 4,6% VF+ 3,3% PA 2,4%
ANCDAMKEFFIFPActionSAPAVF+ secondary source ■ 2024 result · ◆ 2026 count
Published shares, not re-percentaged · 14 national polls · pollsters and methods in the sources

Metro polls before 4 November 2026

The metros: last poll
against the count.

The latest poll from each pollster in each metro, and the council's ward and PR vote counted so far. "Gap" is the average difference in points over the parties the poll names.

Johannesburg 46% counted

Poll DAANCActionSAMKEFFPA Gap
Ipsos13 October 2026 3027115121 4,0
SRF12 October 2026 36229116 4,7
SABI Strategy Group30 September 2026 · n=1 000 · secondary 29,222,6712,3113,7 5,1
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=1 011 3521,810,312,511,93,7 3,2
Count so farcounting 41,116,915,64,96,91,1

Cape Town 50% counted

Poll DAANCEFFPAVF+ActionSA Gap
Ipsos13 October 2026 512110413 5,0
SABI Strategy Group30 September 2026 · n=1 000 · secondary 56,119,16,65,32,22,4 3,2
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=1 004 52,623,66,54,911,5 3,0
Count so farcounting 61,59,52,83,93,52,6

eThekwini 25% counted

Poll MKDAANCIFPEFFActionSA Gap
Ipsos13 October 2026 472110842 1,9
SRF12 October 2026 43281373 3,4
SABI Strategy Group30 September 2026 · n=1 000 · secondary 43,430,211,36,43,12,1 3,1
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=1 039 4825,214,562,50,5 1,5
Count so farcounting 45,319,516,97,81,72,6

Ekurhuleni 59% counted

Poll DAANCActionSAMKEFFVF+ Gap
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=1 019 31,229,46,111,59,25,2 3,0
Ipsos31 July 2026 2124131810 5,2
Count so farcounting 29,922,118,37,16,25,9

Tshwane 62% counted

Poll DAANCActionSAEFFVF+MK Gap
Ipsos13 October 2026 34318852 4,4
SRF12 October 2026 322612774 3,3
SABI Strategy Group30 September 2026 · n=1 001 · secondary 32,123,910,813,74,35,8 4,4
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=1 046 33,924,910,712,37,95,2 2,4
Count so farcounting 33,621,122,55,97,12,1

Nelson Mandela Bay 75% counted

Poll DAANCEFFPAActionSAMK Gap
MarkData14 September 2026 · n=994 37,737,4843,43,2 2,5
Ipsos31 July 2026 3737855 5,2
Count so farcounting 44,326,15,23,01,71,0

Buffalo City 98% counted

Poll ANCDAEFFUDMSACPPA Gap
Ipsos31 July 2026 2933274 12,9
Count so farcounting 42,017,06,918,04,51,7

Polls: Ipsos, the Social Research Foundation with The Common Sense, MarkData for eNCA, and SABI Strategy Group for News24 (copied from Wikipedia, marked secondary). Figures as published, in percent.

Photos: Cyril Ramaphosa — Ricardo Stuckert, CC BY 4.0 · Geordin Hill-Lewis — eNCA, CC BY 3.0 · Jacob Zuma — Presidential Press and Information Office / Пресс-служба Президента России, CC BY 4.0 · Julius Malema — Gary van der Merwe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Velenkosini Hlabisa — eNCA, CC BY 3.0 · Gayton McKenzie — US Embassy South Africa, CC BY 2.0 · Corné Mulder — Houses of the Oireachtas, CC BY 2.0 · Herman Mashaba — St. Gallen Symposium, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bantu Holomisa — eNCA (eNews Channel Africa), CC BY 3.0 · Ganief Hendricks — eNCA, CC BY 3.0 . Others public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.