JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg’s inner city is expected to be a key battleground in the upcoming local government elections, with the ANC, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the EFF competing for support in Berea.
According to eNCA elections analyst Wayne Sussman, the ward reflects Johannesburg’s changing political landscape, with the emergence of the MK Party reshaping the contest.
In the 2021 local government elections, the ANC secured 53% of the vote in Berea, followed by the EFF with 24% and ActionSA with 11%.
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However, the political landscape shifted significantly during the 2024 national and provincial elections.
The ANC retained first place in Berea, but its share of the vote dropped to 35%. The MK Party emerged as a major contender, securing 30%, while the EFF came third with 20%.
Sussman says the results point to a three-way contest in Berea, reflecting growing competition for political support in Johannesburg’s inner city.
“The inner city is absolutely fascinating this election. It’s going to be a literal political battleground,” Sussman said.
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He said the emergence of the MK Party had introduced a new dynamic into the city’s political landscape.
“This is going to be a three-way tussle on election day between the ANC and the EFF,” Sussman said, referring to the contest alongside the MK Party.
Comparing Berea with Soweto, where he said the contest was between the ANC and ActionSA, Sussman said the inner city offered a different picture of the political shifts taking place across Johannesburg.