South Africa votes in municipal elections on 4 Nov
South Africans go to the polls on Wednesday 4 Nov to elect local government leaders, with control of the country's largest cities at stake. Basic services, unemployment and crime lead the agenda. The vote is a test of whether the ANC, which lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 and governs in a unity coalition with the Democratic Alliance, continues its electoral decline. Johannesburg, home to roughly five million people, has faced severe water outages since 19 Oct, with taps dry for at least 10 days in parts of the city. Special votes are cast on 2 and 3 Nov. Polling suggests turnout could fall below 50%.
Key facts
- Johannesburg's unemployment rate rose to 35.9% in the second quarter, from 33.0% a year earlier, per Statistics South Africa.
- Nearly 45% of water flowing through Johannesburg pipelines is lost to poor infrastructure, per the SA Human Rights Commission.
- Ferrial Adam, executive director of WaterCAN, says half of South Africa's drinking water systems are not fit for drinking.
- The Social Research Foundation poll predicts the DA will lead at 36%, up from 19.87% in the 2021 local elections.
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Why it matters
The results will decide control of South Africa's largest cities and test the ANC's standing after 2024.
What changed
First published from Daily Maverick, The Straits Times, allAfrica, ABC News (US) and DW