2016 South African municipal elections

2016 South African municipal elections

3 August 2016
All councillors for all 8 metropolitan municipalities All councillors for all 226 local municipalities 40% of councillors for all 44 district municipalities
First party Second party Third party   Leader Jacob Zuma Mmusi Maimane Julius Malema Party ANC Democratic Alliance EFF Popular vote 53.91% 27.39% 8.19% Swing 8.04% 2.96% New Councillors 5,163 1,782 761 Councillors ± 468 227 761 Municipalities 167 33 0 Municipalities ± 15 12   Fourth party   Leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi Party IFP Popular vote 4.25% Swing 0.68% Councillors 432 Councillors ± 80 Municipalities 11 Municipalities ± 9

The 2016 South African municipal elections were held on 3 August 2016,^[1] to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces.^[2] It was the fifth municipal election held in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994; municipal elections are held every five years.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) was the largest party overall, earning 53.9% of the total vote.^[a] It was followed by the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) with 26.9% and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 8.2%. Popular support for the ANC fell to its lowest level since 1994, a shift which was most pronounced in the country's urban centres.^[3] Despite marginal gains in some areas, the ANC lost control of three metropolitan municipalities – namely Nelson Mandela Bay, City of Tshwane and City of Johannesburg – to opposition parties as a result of the election. The DA achieved its best local electoral performance so far, while the EFF, contesting its first local government election, improved on its performance in the 2014 general election. The local polls were widely seen a turning point in the political landscape of South Africa, as the dominance of the ANC was greatly diminished while coalition and minority governments became more widespread.^[4][5]

Electoral system

Local government in South Africa consists of municipalities of various types. The largest metropolitan areas are governed by metropolitan municipalities, while the rest of the country is divided into district municipalities, each of which consists of several local municipalities. After the 2016 election there were eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities.^[6]

District and metropolitan (red) municipalities

Local municipalities

The councils of metropolitan and local municipalities are elected by a system of mixed-member proportional representation, in which half of the seats in each municipality are elected on the first-past-the-post system in single-member wards and the other half of the seats are allocated according to the proportional representation (PR) system. The latter takes into account the number of ward seats won by a party, and ensures that the final number of seats held by that party is proportional to their percentage of the total vote.^[7] District municipality councils are partly elected by proportional representation and partly appointed by the councils of the constituent local municipalities.^[8] Voters in both metropolitan and local municipalities elect a single ward candidate as well as a proportional representative in their municipal council. Residents of municipalities that form part of district councils (that is, excluding metropolitan municipalities) also cast a third vote to elect a proportional representative for their district council in addition to the two votes they cast for their local council.^[9]

Political parties

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been the majority party in most municipalities across South Africa, with the exception of those in the Western Cape, since 1994. Its overall share of the vote decreased slightly from 65.7% in 2006 to 62.93% in 2011 amid growing discontent regarding the state of the country's economy and perceived corruption within the organisation since the end of apartheid.^[10] The party was led by Jacob Zuma, who was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa at the 57th National Conference in December 2017.

The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) increased its total share of the vote from 16.3% in 2006 to 24.1% in 2011, while assuming control of most Western Cape councils. The party contested an election for the first time under the leadership of Mmusi Maimane, who succeeded Helen Zille as leader in May 2015.^[11]

The newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, contested its first municipal election since its formation in 2013. Smaller parties included the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which held several municipalities in its stronghold KwaZulu-Natal, and the Congress of the People (COPE), which was expected to decrease its share of the vote after the decline in support following the 2014 general election.^[12] The National Freedom Party (NFP), a breakaway from the IFP led by former IFP chairperson Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, was barred from participating in the election after it failed to pay its registration fee to the Independent Electoral Commission.^[13] The party had support in areas where the IFP had been strong, and prior to the election governed a number of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal in coalition with the African National Congress. The NFP was, however, allowed to contest the election in one municipality, Nquthu, where its local branch had paid the registration fee on time.^[14] The party obtained just two seats in this council, down from five seats in 2011.

Campaigning

The country's ruling party, the ANC, was reported to have spent R1 billion (US$71 million) in campaigning in the election.^[15][16] The Democratic Alliance (DA) was reported to have spent R350 million and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) spent between R15 million and R20 million.^[16] The United Democratic Movement (UDM) reportedly spent under R4 million contesting the election.^[16]

The top three issues of the election were the constantly high unemployment rate, corruption and poor service delivery by government.^[17] A major campaign issue during the election was corruption within the ANC, in particular President Jacob Zuma's relationship with the Gupta family^[18] and funding for the construction of his homestead at Nkandla.^[19]

The ANC was accused by commentators and the DA^[20] of trying to make racism a key electoral issue by racialising the election.^[21]

The run-up to the election was marked by a number of murders of ANC candidates allegedly by rivals within the ANC in an effort to secure lucrative positions in local government.^[22] Inter ANC rivalries^[23] also sparked protests from 20 to 22 June 2016 in the City of Tshwane over the ANC's selection of Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate for the city^[24] that left 5 people dead.^[25]

In January 2017 the ANC was taken to court by a South African public relations expert (Sihle Bolani) for work done during the elections, Bolani stated that the ANC used her to launch and run a covert R50 million fake news and disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting opposition parties during the election.^[26][27][28]

In his book How to Steal a City (2017), author Crispian Olver states that corruption and state capture within the ANC governed Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality led to the party losing the city to the DA in the 2016 elections.^[29]

Municipal demarcation changes

South Africa's Municipal Demarcation Board announced changed ward demarcations and municipal boundaries, following former Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan suggesting the redrawing of boundaries to make municipalities more sustainable and financially viable. There are 34 cases that affect 90 municipalities.^[30] The DA objected, and MP James Selfe has announced that the DA would take the Board to court over what it says is clear party-motivated and irrational boundary determinations.^[31]

Target municipalities

The two major political parties announced that they were specifically targeting certain municipalities for the 2016 election. The African National Congress (ANC) claimed that, in addition to maintaining control of certain municipalities, it would also take control of the City of Cape Town.^[32] The Democratic Alliance announced a "big five" plan to target specific municipalities: three metropolitan; Tshwane, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, and Tlokwe Local Municipality for takeover, and an increased majority in Cape Town.^[33]

Nelson Mandela Bay

Danny Jordaan was appointed Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay in 2015 and also ran for the ANC in the 2016 election.^[34] On April 13, 2015, the Democratic Alliance selected former DA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip as its mayoral candidate.^[35]

Johannesburg

Incumbent Mayor Parks Tau represented the African National Congress in the election as its mayoral candidate,^[36] despite some ANC members having suggested Geoff Makhubo as a potential alternative.^[37] The Democratic Alliance selected businessman Herman Mashaba over Wits professor and DA councillor Rabelani Dagada as its mayoral candidate on January 16, 2016.^[38] The EFF did not announce a mayoral candidate, but deployed Floyd Shivambu to build EFF election machinery in Johannesburg for the upcoming election.^[39]

Tshwane

See also: 2016 Tshwane riots

The incumbent mayor of Tshwane was Kgosientso Ramokgopa of the African National Congress. On 20 June 2016 riots broke out in Tshwane over the ANC's selection of Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate for Tshwane.^[40] On 5 September 2015 the Democratic Alliance selected MPL Solly Msimanga over 2011 mayoral candidate Brandon Topham and councillor Bronwyn Engelbrecht.^[41]

Cape Town

Incumbent DA Mayor Patricia de Lille was renominated in January 2016 as her party's mayoral candidate.^[42]

Election results

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) remained the largest party, obtaining 53.91% of the votes nationally, a fall from the 62.93% achieved in 2011. The Democratic Alliance (DA) remained the second largest at 26.90%, up from 24.1% in 2011. The Economic Freedom Fighters obtained 8.19% in their first municipal election.

The decline in ANC support was most significant in urban areas, with the ANC losing its outright majority in 4 of the country's 8 metropolitan municipalities for the first time since 1994. The ANC retained Buffalo City, Mangaung and eThekwini, but with decreased majorities in Buffalo City and eThekwini. In the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, the ANC lost its majority but retained a plurality. The DA increased its majority in the City of Cape Town, and achieved pluralities in Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, its first in metropolitan municipalities outside of the Western Cape. Of the 4 hung metropolitan municipalities, the ANC retained Ekurhuleni through a coalition, while the DA gained control of Nelson Mandela Bay through a coalition, and formed minority governments in Johannesburg and Tshwane.

National results by party

Party		Ward		PR		Ward + PR		DC		Total
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
	ANC	7,978,983	53.34%	8,124,223	54.49%	16,103,206	53.91%	5,347,126	61.68%	21,450,332	55.65%
	DA	4,004,865	26.77%	4,028,765	27.02%	8,033,630	26.90%	1,429,868	16.52%	9,463,498	24.57%
	EFF	1,217,805	8.14%	1,229,548	8.25%	2,447,353	8.19%	755,326	8.73%	3,202,679	8.31%
	IFP	632,102	4.23%	636,722	4.27%	1,268,824	4.25%	554,558	6.41%	1,823,382	4.73%
	AIC	88,501	0.59%	145,759	0.98%	234,260	0.78%	99,395	1.15%	333,655	0.87%
	VF+	115,993	0.78%	113,288	0.76%	229,281	0.77%	78,268	0.90%	307,549	0.80%
	UDM	76,351	0.51%	91,271	0.61%	167,622	0.56%	70,378	0.81%	238,000	0.62%
	COPE	62,582	0.42%	67,779	0.45%	130,361	0.44%	55,824	0.65%	186,185	0.48%
	ACDP	61,966	0.41%	62,463	0.42%	124,429	0.42%	26,536	0.31%	150,965	0.39%
	F4SD	28,638	0.19%	28,849	0.19%	57,487	0.19%	29,180	0.34%	86,667	0.23%
	APC	24,819	0.17%	40,758	0.27%	65,577	0.22%	19,002	0.22%	84,579	0.22%
	PAC	28,171	0.19%	29,807	0.20%	57,978	0.19%	16,629	0.19%	74,607	0.19%
	Bushbuckridge Residents Association	24,592	0.16%	24,889	0.17%	49,481	0.17%	23,987	0.28%	73,468	0.19%
	Independent Civic Organisation	15,240	0.10%	15,239	0.10%	30,479	0.10%	13,762	0.16%	44,241	0.11%
	Al Jama-ah	19,030	0.13%	17,223	0.12%	36,243	0.12%	648	0.01%	36,891	0.10%
	UCDP	7,975	0.05%	9,695	0.07%	17,670	0.06%	10,571	0.12%	28,241	0.07%
	AZAPO	9,801	0.07%	10,126	0.07%	19,927	0.07%	8,122	0.09%	28,049	0.07%
	Independent	341,030	2.28%	N/A		341,030	1.14%	N/A		341,030	0.89%
Total[43]		14,959,033		14,910,817		29,869,850		8,654,209		38,524,059

• PR = Proportional Representation
• DC = District Council

Results by Municipal Type

Nature of the governments formed in the metropolitan and local municipalities

•   ANC majority
•   DA majority
•   IFP majority
•   ANC coalition or minority
•   DA coalition or minority
•   IFP coalition or minority

The statistics in this section are all sourced from the Independent Electoral Commission's official website unless specified otherwise.

Metropolitan Municipalities

Party		Type of Control	Municipalities	Change
	African National Congress	ANC Majority	3	4
		ANC Coalition	1	1
		Total	4	3
	Democratic Alliance	DA Majority	1	0
		DA Coalition	1	1
		DA Minority	2	2
		Total	4	3

District Municipalities

Local Municipalities

Party		Type of Control	Municipalities	Change
	African National Congress	ANC Majority	158	5 1/6 [b]
		ANC Coalition	3	18 1/2 [c]
		ANC Minority	2	1
		Total	163	13 2/3
	Democratic Alliance	DA Majority	17	5 2/3 [d]
		DA Coalition	8	2
		DA Minority	4	4
		Total	29	7 2/3
	Inkatha Freedom Party	IFP Majority	6	4
		IFP Minority	5	5
		Total	11	9
	COPE	COPE Coalition	0	1
		Total	0	1
	ICOSA	ICOSA Coalition	0	1
		Total	0	1
	National Freedom Party	NFP Majority	0	1
		NFP Coalition	0	1
		Total	0	2

Seats won by province

Seat allocations in local and metropolitan councils, sorted by province.

Eastern Cape

In the following table, green rows indicate those won by the ANC with a majority, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA with a majority, and light blue rows indicate a DA coalition or minority, light green cells indicate municipalities won by the ANC with Minorities or Coalitions.

Metropolitan Municipalities
Municipality		ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Buffalo City		60	24	8	8	100	ANC majority	ANC majority
Nelson Mandela Bay		50	57	6	7	120	ANC majority	DA-UDM-Cope-ACDP Coalition
Two Tier Municipalities
District Municipality	Local Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Sarah Baartman							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Dr Beyers Naudé	14	13	0	0	27	New municipality[e]	ANC majority
	Blue Crane Route	7	4	0	0	11	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Makana	17	8	2	0	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ndlambe	13	6	1	0	20	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Sundays River Valley	11	4	1	0	16	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Kouga	12	17	0	0	29	ANC majority	DA majority
	Kou-Kamma	6	5	0	0	11	ANC majority	ANC majority
Amathole							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mbhashe	47	2	2	12	63	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mnquma	48	3	3	8	62	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Great Kei	9	2	1	1	13	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Amahlathi	24	3	3	0	30	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ngqushwa	20	2	1	0	23	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Raymond Mhlaba	38	5	3	0	46	ANC majority[f]	ANC majority
Chris Hani							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Inxuba Yethemba	11	7	0	0	18	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Intsika Yethu	35	1	3	3	42	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Emalahleni	28	4	1	1	34	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Engcobo	33	1	2	3	39	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Sakhisizwe	14	1	1	1	17	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Enoch Mgijima	50	9	6	3	68	ANC majority[g]	ANC majority
Joe Gqabi							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Elundini	28	2	1	3	34	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Senqu	23	2	1	8	34	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Walter Sisulu	15	5	1	1	22	ANC majority[h]	ANC majority
OR Tambo							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ngquza Hill	53	2	4	4	63	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Port St Johns	31	2	1	5	39	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Nyandeni	54	3	3	3	63	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mhlontlo	40	2	2	7	51	ANC majority	ANC majority
	King Sabata Dalindyebo	46	3	3	20	72	ANC majority	ANC majority
Alfred Nzo							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Matatiele	38	5	3	5	51	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Umzimvubu	41	4	3	5	53	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mbizana	50	2	4	6	62	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ntabankulu	29	2	2	1	34	ANC majority	ANC majority

Free State

In the following table, green cells indicate those municipalities won by the ANC with Majorities. Light blue cells indicate those won by the DA with a minority or coalition, Light green cells indicate those won by the ANC with a minority or coalition.

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Metropolitan Municipalities
Mangaung	58	27	9	6	100	ANC majority	ANC majority
District Municipalities
Fezile Dabi						ANC majority	ANC majority
Lejweleputswa						ANC majority	ANC majority
Thabo Mofutsanyana						ANC majority	ANC majority
Xhariep						ANC majority	ANC majority
Local Municipalities
Dihlabeng	25	8	3	3	39	ANC majority	ANC majority
Kopanong	11	3	1	0	15	ANC majority	ANC majority
Letsemeng	8	2	1		11	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mafube	13	2	1	1	17	ANC majority	ANC majority
Maluti-a-Phofung	47	5	9	8	69	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mantsopa	11	3	2	1	17	ANC majority	ANC majority
Masilonyana	12	4	2	1	19	ANC majority	ANC majority
Matjhabeng	46	16	6	4	72	ANC majority	ANC majority
Metsimaholo	19	12	8	3	42	ANC majority	ANC-SACP coalition
Mohokare	7	2	2	0	11	ANC majority	ANC majority
Moqhaka	27	11	4	3	45	ANC majority	ANC majority
Nala	15	3	5	1	24	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ngwathe	24	8	3	1	36	ANC majority	ANC majority
Nketoana	13	3	1	1	18	ANC majority	ANC majority
Phumelela	12	2	1		15	ANC majority	ANC majority
Setsoto	21	5	3	4	33	ANC majority	ANC majority
Tokologo	5	1	1	1	8	ANC majority	ANC majority
Tswelopele	11	3	1	0	15	ANC majority	ANC majority

Gauteng

In the following table, green cells indicate those municipalities won by the ANC with Majorities, light green cells indicate municipalities won by the ANC with Minorities or Coalitions. blue cells indicate municipalities won by the DA with a majority, light blue cells indicate those won by the DA with a minority or coalition.

Metropolitan Municipalities
Municipality		ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
City of Johannesburg		121	104	30	15	270	ANC majority	DA-IFP-VF+ minority
Ekurhuleni		109	77	25	13	224	ANC majority	ANC-AIC-PAC-PA coalition
City of Tshwane		89	93	25	7	214	ANC majority	DA-VF+-ACDP minority
Two Tier Municipalities
District Municipality	Local Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Sedibeng							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Emfuleni	50	22	11	7	90	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Lesedi	16	6	3	1	26	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Midvaal	9	17	2	1	29	DA majority	DA majority
West Rand		23	12	6	3	44[44]	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Merafong City	30	12	9	4	55	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mogale City	38	27	9	3	77	ANC majority	ANC minority[45]
	Rand West City	37	19	8	5	69	ANC majority	ANC majority

KwaZulu-Natal

In the following table, green rows indicate those won by the ANC with a majority, light green rows indicate those won by the ANC with a minority or coalition, red rows indicate those won by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) with a majority, and pink rows indicate lead by an IFP minority. Orange cells indicate those one by National Freedom Party (NFP), and light orange indicate those led by NFP coalition.

Metropolitan Municipalities
Municipality		ANC	DA	IFP	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
eThekwini		126	61	10	22	219	ANC majority	ANC majority
Two Tier Municipalities
District Municipality	Local Municipality	ANC	DA	IFP	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Amajuba							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Newcastle	41	6	11	9	67	ANC majority	ANC majority
	eMadlangeni	6	1	3	1	11	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
	Dannhauser	14	1	8	2	25	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
Harry Gwala							ANC majority	ANC majority
	Umzimkhulu	38	1	1	3	43	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma	23	3	2	1	29	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ubuhlebezwe	20	1	2	4	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Greater Kokstad	13	3	0	3	19	ANC majority	ANC majority
iLembe								ANC majority
	KwaDukuza	36	11	4	6	57	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mandeni	25	1	7	2	35	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Maphumulo	13	0	9	0	22	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Ndwedwe	27	1	8	1	37	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ugu		23	5	6	1	35		ANC majority[46]
	Ray Nkonyeni	47	14	5	5	71	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Umzumbe	30	1	6	2	39	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Umdoni	23	7	3	4	37	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Umuziwabantu	14	1	4	1	20	ANC majority	ANC majority
uMgungundlovu								ANC majority
	uMngeni	13	10	0	0	23	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Msunduzi	52	15	5	6	78	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mkhambathini	9	1	3	1	14	ANC majority	ANC majority
	uMshwathi	20	2	4	1	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Richmond	11	2	0	1	14	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Impendle	6	0	1	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mooi Mpofana	7	1	1	0	9	ANC majority	ANC majority
uMkhanyakude								ANC majority
	Jozini	19	1	18	2	40	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority[47]
	Mtubatuba	18	2	18	2	40	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority[48]
	uMhlabuyalingana	22	1	10	2	35	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Big Five Hlabisa	11	1	13	0	25	New municipality	IFP majority
uMzinyathi							ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority
	Endumeni	6	2	4	1	13	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority [48]
	Nquthu	14	1	15	3	33	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority[48]
	Msinga	12	0	24	0	36	IFP majority	IFP majority
	Umvoti	15	1	11	0	27	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
uThukela								ANC Majority
	Alfred Duma	46	4	16	6	72	New municipality[i]	ANC majority
	Okhahlamba	15	2	7	5	29	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
	Inkosi Langalibalele	23	2	18	3	46	New municipality	ANC-Ind coalition[49]
Zululand							NFP-ANC coalition	IFP minority
	eDumbe	8	5	3	0	16	NFP majority	ANC minority
	UPhongolo	15	2	10	2	29	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
	AbaQulusi	21	3	19	1	44	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP minority[48]
	Nongoma	13	5	22	2	42	NFP-ANC coalition	IFP majority
	Ulundi	11	0	35	1	47	IFP majority	IFP majority
uThungulu								ANC majority
	uMhlathuze	43	8	13	3	67	ANC majority	ANC majority
	Mfolozi	17	0	15	1	33	ANC majority	ANC majority
	uMlalazi	30	1	22	1	54	ANC-NFP coalition	ANC majority
	Mthonjaneni	10	0	14	1	25	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP majority
	Nkandla	12	0	15	0	27	ANC-NFP coalition	IFP majority

Limpopo

In the following table, green cells indicate those municipalities won by the ANC with Majorities. Light blue cells indicate those won by the DA with a minority or coalition.

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
District Municipalities
Capricorn						ANC majority	ANC majority
Mopani						ANC majority	ANC majority
Sekhukhune						ANC majority	ANC majority
Vhembe						ANC majority	ANC majority
Waterberg	19	7	8	1	35	ANC majority	ANC majority
Local Municipalities
Blouberg	33	2	8	1	44	ANC majority	ANC majority
Lepele-Nkumpi	40	3	15	2	60	ANC majority	ANC majority
Polokwane	52	10	26	2	90	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ba-Phalaborwa	26	4	6	1	37	ANC majority	ANC majority
Greater Giyani	51	2	5	4	62	ANC majority	ANC majority
Greater Letaba	46	2	9	3	60	ANC majority	ANC majority
Greater Tzaneen	52	7	8	2	69	ANC majority	ANC majority
Maruleng	15	3	5	4	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
Elias Motsoaledi	41	5	10	4	61	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ephraim Mogale	20	3	7	2	32	ANC majority	ANC majority
Greater Tubatse	54	4	15	4	77	ANC majority	ANC majority
Makhuduthamaga	43	2	14	3	62	ANC majority	ANC majority
Makhado	56	9	7	3	75	ANC majority	ANC majority
Musina	18	3	3	0	24	ANC majority	ANC majority
Thulamela	64	4	8	5	81	ANC majority	ANC majority
Bela-Bela	9	5	2	1	17	ANC majority	ANC majority
Lephalale	17	4	5	0	26	ANC majority	ANC majority
Molemole	23	2	7	0	32	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mogalakwena	41	6	13	4	64	ANC majority	ANC majority
Modimolle–Mookgophong	13	7	6	2	28	ANC majority	DA minority [50]
Thabazimbi	10	5	5	3	23	ANC majority	DA minority [50]

Mpumalanga

The ANC's control of the municipalities in this province was not significantly challenged with the party winning over 55% support in every municipality. The DA failed to make any progress in this historically strongly ANC region, with the party's vote share shrinking by a few percentage points overall against a national backdrop of gains for the party. Due in large part to the lack of substantial DA support across the province, the EFF was able to become the main opposition to the ANC in four of the seventeen municipalities.

In the following table, green rows indicate those won by the ANC.

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
District Municipalities
Ehlanzeni						ANC majority	ANC majority
Gert Sibande						ANC majority	ANC majority
Nkangala						ANC majority	ANC majority
Local Municipalities
Albert Luthuli	41	2	4	2	49	ANC majority	ANC majority
Msukaligwa	29	5	3	1	38	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mkhondo	29	3	2	4	38	ANC majority	ANC majority
Pixley ka Seme	17	2	1	1	21	ANC majority	ANC majority
Lekwa	20	5	2	3	30	ANC majority	ANC majority
Dipaleseng	9	2	1	0	12	ANC majority	ANC majority
Govan Mbeki	36	15	9	3	63	ANC majority	ANC majority
Victor Khanye	11	4	2	0	17	ANC majority	ANC majority
Emalahleni	41	17	8	2	68	ANC majority	ANC majority
Steve Tshwete	32	17	7	2	58	ANC majority	ANC majority
Emakhazeni	11	3	1	0	15	ANC majority	ANC majority
Thembisile Hani	49	3	9	3	64	ANC majority	ANC majority
Dr JS Moroka	43	4	10	5	62	ANC majority	ANC majority
Thaba Chweu	17	7	2	1	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
Nkomazi	54	4	7	0	65	ANC majority	ANC majority
Bushbuckridge	53	3	4	16	76	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mbombela	69	13	6	2	90	ANC majority	ANC majority

North West

In the following table, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and light green rows indicate those with an ANC minority or coalition. The municipal boundaries are determined by the Organised Local Government Act, 1997 (Act 52 of 1997) ^[51]

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
District Municipalities [52]
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati						ANC majority	ANC majority
Ngaka Modiri Molema						ANC majority	ANC majority
Bojanala						ANC majority	ANC majority
Dr Kenneth Kaunda						ANC majority	ANC majority
Local Municipalities
Ditsobotla	25	6	5	3	40	ANC majority	ANC majority
Kagisano-Molopo	22	2	2	3	29	ANC majority	ANC majority
Greater Taung	34	2	6	6	48	ANC majority	ANC majority
Kgetlengrivier	8	3	3	1	15	ANC majority	ANC majority
Lekwa-Teemane	10	3	1	2	16	ANC majority	ANC majority
Madibeng	45	16	14	6	81	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mafikeng	43	7	12	7	69	ANC majority	ANC majority
Mamusa	11	1	2	4	18	ANC majority	ANC majority
Maquassi Hills	14	3	2	3	22	ANC majority	ANC majority
Matlosana	46	17	7	7	77	ANC majority	ANC majority
Moretele	38	4	8	2	52	ANC majority	ANC majority
Moses Kotane	45	4	15	4	68	ANC majority	ANC majority
Naledi	13	5	2	0	20	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ramotshere Moiloa	23	2	6	7	38	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ratlou	20	2	3	3	28	ANC majority	ANC majority
Rustenburg	43	14	24	8	89	ANC majority	ANC-AIC-BCM coalition
Tswaing	20	5	2	1	29	ANC majority	ANC majority
JB Marks	34	22	5	6	67	ANC majority	ANC majority

Northern Cape

In the following table, green rows indicate those won by the ANC majority, and light green cells indicate municipalities led by an ANC coalition or minority. Light blue rows indicate municipalities won led by a DA coalition or minority. Yellow cells indicate municipalities led by a COPE coalition or minority.

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
District Municipalities
Frances Baard						ANC majority	ANC majority
John Taolo Gaetsewe						ANC majority	ANC majority
Namakwa						ANC majority	ANC majority
Pixley ka Seme						ANC majority	ANC majority
ZF Mgcawu						ANC majority	ANC majority
Local Municipalities
Richtersveld	4	3	0	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Nama Khoi	8	7	0	2	17	DA-COPE coalition	ANC-KSR coalition[53]
Kamiesberg	4	2	1	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Hantam	5	4	0	0	9	DA-COPE coalition	ANC majority
Karoo Hoogland	4	2	0	1	7	COPE-DA coalition	ANC majority
Khâi-Ma	4	2	0	1	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ubuntu	3	2	0	2	7	ANC minority[54]	ANC minority[55]
Umsobomvu	7	3	1	0	11	ANC majority	ANC majority
Emthanjeni	9	5	1	0	15	ANC-Ind coalition	ANC majority
Kareeberg	4	2	1	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Renosterberg	4	3	0	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Thembelihle	4	2	1	0	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Siyathemba	6	3	0	0	9	ANC majority	ANC majority
Siyancuma	8	3	2	0	13	ANC majority	ANC majority
Kai !Garib	11	5	1	2	19	ANC majority	ANC majority
!Kheis	4	1	0	2	7	ANC majority	ANC majority
Tsantsabane	7	2	1	3	13	ANC majority	ANC majority
Kgatelopele	3	2	0	2	7	ANC majority	KGF-DA coalition[56][57]
Dawid Kruiper	18	10	1	2	31	New municipality[j]	ANC majority
Sol Plaatje	38	19	5	3	65	ANC majority	ANC majority
Dikgatlong	9	2	2	0	13	ANC majority	ANC majority
Magareng	5	2	2	0	9	ANC majority	ANC majority
Phokwane	12	3	3	1	19	ANC majority	ANC majority
Joe Morolong	21	1	6	1	29	ANC majority	ANC majority
Ga-Segonyana	18	3	5	1	27	ANC majority	ANC majority
Gamagara	7	5	1	0	13	ANC majority	ANC majority

Western Cape

In the following table, green cells indicate those municipalities won by the ANC with Majorities, light green cells indicate municipalities won by the ANC with Minorities or Coalitions. blue cells indicate municipalities won by the DA with a majority, light blue cells indicate those won by the DA with a minority or coalition.

Municipality	ANC	DA	EFF	Others	Total	Prior Control	New Control
Metropolitan Municipalities
City of Cape Town	57	154	7	13	231	DA majority	DA majority
District Municipalities
West Coast	9	16	0	0	25	DA majority	DA majority
Cape Winelands	11	27	2	1	41	DA majority	DA majority
Overberg	7	14	0	0	21	DA majority	DA majority
Garden Route	12	21	0	2	35	DA-led coalition	DA majority
Central Karoo	4	6	0	3	13	ANC-KGP coalition	DA-KGP coalition
Local Municipalities
Beaufort West	6	6	0	1	13	ANC majority	DA-KDF coalition[58]
Bergrivier	4	9	0	0	13	DA majority	DA majority
Breede Valley	12	22	1	6	41	DA majority	DA majority
Bitou	6	6	0	1	13	DA majority	DA-AUF coalition[59]
Cape Agulhas	3	6	0	2	11	ANC-Ind coalition	DA majority
Cederberg	4	6	0	1	11	ANC majority	DA majority
Drakenstein	15	43	2	5	65	DA majority	DA majority
George	16	29	1	7	53	DA majority	DA majority
Hessequa	8	8	0	1	17	DA-COPE coalition	DA-FF+ coalition
Kannaland	2	2	0	3	7	ICOSA-ANC coalition	ANC-DA coalition[60] (in doubt)[61]
Knysna	7	10	0	4	21	DA majority	DA-ACDP coalition[62]
Laingsburg	3	3	0	1	7	DA-COPE coalition	DA-KOP coalition[58][63][64]
Langeberg	6	12	1	4	23	DA-COPE coalition	DA majority
Matzikama	5	8	1	1	15	ANC-led coalition	DA majority
Mossel Bay	7	17	0	3	27	DA majority	DA majority
Oudtshoorn	7	14	1	3	25	Under Administration	DA majority
Overstrand	8	16	1	0	25	DA majority	DA majority
Prince Albert	2	3	0	2	7	KGP-ANC coalition	DA-KGP coalition[58]
Saldanha Bay	8	17	1	1	27	DA majority	DA majority
Stellenbosch	8	30	2	3	43	DA majority	DA majority
Swartland	6	16	1	0	23	DA majority	DA majority
Swellendam	5	6	0	0	11	DA-ACDP coalition	DA majority
Theewaterskloof	10	14	1	2	27	DA majority	DA majority
Witzenberg	8	11	1	3	23	DA-COPE-Ind-DCP coalition	DA-COPE coalition

Notes

1. Ward + PR total, the figure used by most publications when reporting on the results. This figure provides the most accurate representation of the election outcome, as district municipality results (which favour rural areas) are not taken into account
2. Not a whole number due to merged municipalities
3. Not a whole number due to merged municipalities
4. Not a whole number due to merged municipalities
5. This municipality was formed by the merger of three smaller municipalities, two had ANC majorities and one a DA majority
6. This municipality was formed by the merger of two smaller municipalities, both of which had ANC majorities.
7. This municipality was formed by the merger of three smaller municipalities, all of which had ANC majorities.
8. This municipality was formed by the merger of two smaller municipalities, both of which had ANC majorities.
9. This municipality was formed by the merger of two municipalities, one of which was governed by an ANC-NFP Coalition, the other by an ANC majority.
10. This municipality was formed by the merger of two municipalities, both governed by an ANC majority.

References

1. "Local government election date announced". News24. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
2. "Electoral Commission: Introduction to 2016 Municipal Elections". www.elections.org.za. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
3. "As urban voters desert the ANC, it will need to keep rural supporters sweet". Business Day. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
4. "South Africa has broken the post-colonial narrative. It's a thrilling turning point". The Guardian. 6 August 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
5. "Political parties will have to adjust to many more coalitions". Times Live. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
6. "Cooperative Governance on democratic local government". South African Government. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
7. "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS". Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
8. "Understanding Local Government". Community Organisers Toolbox. Education and Training Unit. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
9. "Elections in South Africa". Education and Training Unit. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
10. Wexler, Alexandra (3 August 2016). "South African Vote Could Unsettle ANC". The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
11. "Mmusi Maimane elected as new DA leader". Sunday Times. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
12. "Lekota says Cope is going strong". enca. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
13. "NFP to approach ConCourt to fight disqualification from elections". News24. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
14. "NFP still has Nquthu, says IEC". Independent Online. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
15. "Elections in South Africa: A Referendum on the ANC". The American Interest. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
16. QAANITAH HUNTER; THABO MOKONE; BABALO NDENZE; THANDUXOLO JIKA (31 July 2016). "Elections: It's a megabucks poll cliffhanger". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
17. "South African local elections: ANC at a crossroads". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
18. "'Gupta family just caught in South Africa's political crossfire'". www.enca.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
19. Manyathela, Clement. "Nkandla issue affected ANC's support in urban areas - Mantashe". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
20. "ANC is running a racist election campaign, DA's Mmusi Maimane states". Business Day. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
21. Fakir, Ebrahim (19 February 2016). "It's easy for the ANC to use race as a campaign issue but it's a very bad idea". Daily Vox. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
22. David McKenzie. "South African politicians on election hit-list?". CNN. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
23. "Tshwane crisis: When factionalism runs riot | Daily Maverick". www.dailymaverick.co.za. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
24. Mataboge, Mmanaledi. "ANC's 2016 headache – retaining the Big 5". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
25. Rahlaga, Masego. "Death toll in Tshwane unrest rises to 5". Retrieved 11 August 2016.
26. "amaBhungane - Inside the ANC's "black ops" election campaign". amabhungane.co.za. amaBhungane. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
27. "ANC spent millions on dirty tricks: Cope". www.enca.com. Africa News Agency. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
28. "It's fake news, says Shaka Sisulu of ANC election accusations". Mail and Guardian. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
29. Delport, Deon (11 November 2017). "Review: Insider's guide to greed and factionalism in PE | Independent on Saturday". Retrieved 7 September 2018.
30. "SA municipal boundaries changed ahead of 2016 elections". Businesstech.co.za. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
31. Kingdom Mabuza (28 August 2015). "Boundary battle rages". Times LIVE. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
32. "More of the same for ANC in the Western Cape with Fransman at the helm? | Politics". RDM. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
33. Qaanitah Hunter. "DA has the 'big five' metros in its sights | News | National | M&G". Mg.co.za. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
34. Letsoalo, Matuma; Gqirana, Thulani; Kings, Sipho; Hunter, Qaanitah (8 May 2015). "Desperate ANC wants Danny Jordaan as PE mayor". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
35. "Trollip is DA mayoral candidate for Mandela Bay". IOL. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
36. "Analysis: DA's Herman Mashaba is a strong alternative to ANC's Parks Tau". Daily Maverick. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
37. Letsoalo, Matuma (20 January 2016). "Who will lead the ANC's election charge?". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
38. Quintal, Genevieve. "Herman Mashaba announced as DA's Joburg mayoral candidate". Times Live. The Times/Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
39. "Malema not endorsed as Polokwane mayor - EFF". News24. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
40. Mataboge, Mmanaledi. "ANC's 2016 headache – retaining the Big 5". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
41. Patel, Faizel (5 September 2015). "DA CHOOSES TSHWANE'S SOLLY MSIMANGA AS 2016 MAYORAL CANDIDATE". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
42. "De Lille named DA's mayoral candidate for Cape Town". Ewn.co.za. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
43. "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
44. "New West Rand district Mayor elected". 25 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
45. "ANC welcomes Patrick Lipudi as new Mogale City mayor".
46. "Ugu District Municipality - Council & Management".
47. Nathi Olifant; Matthew Savides (16 September 2016). "ANC spoilt vote sees IFP win Jozini mayoral post". Times LIVE. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
48. Chantall Presence (17 August 2016). "IFP scores in cooperation pact with DA, EFF". IOL. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
49. Paddy Harper (21 August 2016). "'Flip of a coin' will settle eDumbe politics | City Press". City-press.news24.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
50. "ANC loses Modimolle mayor post to DA". 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
51. "Local government | South African Government".
52. "North West Municipalities".
53. "Khoi Revolution, ANC form coalition in Springbok". News24. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
54. "'Ancestors' shine on ANC's coin toss". News24. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
55. Norma, Wildenboer (21 August 2017). "ANC back in control in Ubuntu - DFA". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
56. Sandi Kwon Hoo (19 August 2016). "DA ward councillor bound, shot and dumped". IOL. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
57. Ilze-Marie Le Roux (10 November 2016). "DA retains ward where councillor was murdered". Ewn.co.za. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
58. "First coalition deal sees DA take four municipalities | Politics". RDM. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
59. "ANC booted in Bitou municipality, DA takes over". The Citizen. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
60. "DA and ANC in surprise alliance". iol.co.za. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
61. Xolani Koyana (17 August 2016). "DA councillors who voted with ANC could face disciplinary action". Ewn.co.za. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
62. "Coalition deal gives DA another 5 years in Knysna". Ewn.co.za. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
63. "Executive Mayor". 28 September 2015.
64. "Municipal Speaker". 28 September 2015.