ANC narrowly leads early South African election tally

Early results from South Africa's Nov. 4 municipal elections showed the ANC with about 32% and the DA with 31% after roughly 12% of votes were counted by 0424 GMT, per election commission figures via Reuters. A CSIR projection from 11.5% of voting districts put the ANC at about 32% and the DA at 26% finally. The ANC won 46% in 2021, down from 62% in 2011; the DA has hovered around 22% recently. Reuters and SABCNews differed on how much was counted: about 12% versus over 80%. With 8% counted, SABC reported the ANC had 42 seats; smaller parties also took early seats. Cape Town with 7% counted showed DA 62.14%, ANC 8.34%, PA 5.61%. ACDP candidate Norman Mkhonza said his party felt confident and expected to rise as more metros were counted. Results were expected Sunday, with two weeks then for coalitions. Analysts said an ANC-DA partnership could aid stability in cities such as Johannesburg, or the ANC could team up with the EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe. The outcome could shape the 2029 national election and ANC leadership before Ramaphosa's party-leader term ends in 2027.