JOHANNESBURG - The ANC remains in the lead in the North West, but its support has taken a significant knock.
The party is polling at just under 45 percent, down from more than 55 percent in the 2021 local government elections.
It's a setback for a party that has dominated the province for decades, with voters seemingly demanding more from their elected representatives.
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With the counting process still underway, several municipalities are already facing the prospect of hung councils.
The ANC says its declining support is partly the result of former members who chose to contest the elections as independents or joined opposition parties.
The decline in ANC support could complicate the party's efforts to secure outright majorities across the province.
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And political analysts say some municipalities could once again be forced into coalition arrangements.
For voters, however, the election was less about party loyalty and more about the issues affecting their daily lives.
Access to water, reliable electricity, decent roads and employment remain key concerns.
With the results still being finalised, the political negotiations could prove just as important as the votes themselves.
The challenge now is for political parties to find common ground and form stable administrations capable of delivering on residents' expectations.
- eNCA's Bafedile Moerane reports.