JOHANNESBURG - Voting results are streaming in from across the country, with figures being transmitted to the National Results Operation Centre in Midrand.
The Electoral Commission says it hopes to announce the final results of the 2026 Local Government Elections by the weekend.
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A total of 14.5 million South Africans had cast their ballots by the time voting stations closed at 9pm on Wednesday.
By early Thursday, the ANC appeared to be leading at the national results centre.
But the picture is more mixed across the provinces, with several parties facing shifts in support.
The ANC is losing ground in provinces such as the Northern Cape, a largely rural and sparsely populated province.
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In towns like Pofadder and Garies, the party has lost its outright majority in some municipal councils.
The Patriotic Alliance is also making inroads in some municipalities, according to eNCA election analyst Wayne Sussman.
However, it has suffered a setback in Cape Town, losing a ward it previously held in Kensington to the DA.
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Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party's decision to contest the elections independently appears to be putting further pressure on the ANC's support, with the party losing votes in several areas.