ANC learns that people do not like corruption, mismanagement, water and electricity outages, and potholed roads

The African National Congress (ANC) has convened an extended special meeting of its national executive committee (NEC) to discuss its poor election results.

In the 2026 local government elections, the ANC’s national support declined to 30.76%, down from 45.59% in the 2021 elections.

Equally concerning was that the ANC did not achieve an outright majority in any of South Africa’s large cities.

The DA received the most votes across all Gauteng metros and in Nelson Mandela Bay and achieved an outright majority in Cape Town.

This was the ANC’s worst ever performance, and the party’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, called the election results a catastrophe.

“If anyone has not heard what the people are saying through this election, then we are lost. This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC,” he said.

“As much as we are the largest party, it has been catastrophic for the movement. We knew this disaster was coming.”

He added that, although they successfully liberated black South Africans and gave them the right to vote, that is not enough to get their votes.

He said that the ANC needs to ensure that it governs well and provides people with quality services to gain their support.

“The ANC should never be comfortable about this particular space we are in,” he said in response to the poor results.

The ANC, as a party, responded by acknowledging its failures to deliver basic services and saying it was ready to change.

“Communities have gone without water. Refuse has not been collected. In some places, money that belonged to the people was not spent on the people,” it said.

Special ANC NEC meeting

On Thursday, 12 November 2026, the ANC convened an extended special national executive committee (NEC) meeting.

“The election outcome has placed before the ANC a serious political responsibility to listen to the people,” it said.

“The party must confront its shortcomings and provide leadership as municipalities prepare to establish governments.”

The ANC said that its response must not be reduced to negotiations for municipal positions.

“It must address the lives of South Africans, the stability of local government and the renewal of the movement,” it said.

It said that the extended special NEC meeting was preceded by a process of political consultation.

• On Monday, 9 November 2026, the National Working Committee met.

• On Tuesday, 10 November 2026, the ANC engaged Alliance partners COSATU and SANCO.

• On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, it engaged with its Leagues and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV).

“These engagements form part of the movement’s collective consideration of the election outcome and the responsibilities arising from it,” the ANC said.

It explained that the extended special NEC will consider and adopt a Mandating Guide for the ANC Negotiations Team.