South African metros unlikely to see outright majority rule in 2026 local government elections
via The Citizen3 min read
South Africa's major metropolitan areas are not expected to return to outright majority rule in the 2026 local government elections, according to an analysis of past election cycles and current political trends. Data from the 2016 and 2021 local government elections, alongside the 2024 national and provincial outcomes, indicates a continued fragmentation of the political landscape, moving away from a dominant ANC versus DA contest towards a more dispersed multiparty environment. Netnographer and online analyst Carmen Murray and political analyst Professor Theo Neethling of the University of the Free State suggest that the era of single-party control in metros is effectively over, with coalitions becoming a permanent feature for the foreseeable future. Between 2016 and 2021, the ANC lost 118 seats and the DA lost 115 seats across eight key metros, with these losses absorbed by various competitors. ActionSA, a new entrant in 2021, secured 144 seats, particularly in Gauteng metros, while the EFF gained 17 seats and the Freedom Front Plus gained 21. Smaller parties also expanded their presence, adding 90 seats. Johannesburg exemplifies this shift, with the ANC's share of council seats dropping from 44.2% in 2016 to 33.2% in 2021, and the DA's from 38% to 25.9%, while ActionSA entered with 16.1%. Voter frustration over service delivery challenges, such as water outages and infrastructure issues, has contributed to this dissatisfaction without consolidating support behind a single
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Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has launched a competition to send 16 football fans, one from each Premier Soccer League team, to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The initiative was announced during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, 23 April 2026. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. South Africa's Bafana Bafana will participate in the tournament for the first time since 2010. McKenzie stated that the all-expenses-paid trip to Mexico will cover flights, accommodation, ground transport, and daily allowances, sponsored by two companies, with the department assisting with visa facilitation and match ticket allocation. A panel of South African sports and entertainment figures, including Robert Marawa, Andile Ncube, and Vino Snap, will oversee the selection process. Fans can enter by submitting a 30-second video explaining why they are their club's biggest supporter. McKenzie emphasized that this open competition aims to provide a fair chance for all qualifying South Africans, moving away from a "super-fan culture." He also addressed a social media exchange with popular fan Mama Joy, stating that while he supports her, the new process ensures fairness for everyone. Additionally, McKenzie revealed that his department has arranged an international friendly match between Bafana Bafana legends from the 2010 World Cup squad and their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, on 8 June.
Joburg mayoral candidate and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba's political messaging on social media platform X has shown a notable shift, particularly concerning the ANC and DA. In 2020, Mashaba strongly criticized the ANC, citing government failures, corruption, and deteriorating services. After the 2021 local government elections, he consistently advocated for excluding the ANC from coalitions. However, his stance appeared to soften after the 2024 national elections, with Mashaba expressing pride in a coalition involving the ANC, EFF, and ActionSA in Tshwane by early 2025. Concurrently, his tone towards the DA has become more critical. Once described neutrally, the DA is now frequently criticized, with Mashaba declaring its "moonshot pact is dead" and warning that a vote for the party could risk "apartheid in disguise." Netnographer Carmen Murray suggests these changes indicate a repositioning, creating a gap between policy and real-time messaging, which could undermine credibility if not grounded in facts. This strategy appears to target voters disillusioned with both major parties, positioning ActionSA between "ANC fatigue and DA scepticism."
The Mpumalanga High Court has sentenced Mozambican national James Cumalo to a life term of 25 years, plus an additional 38 years, for the murder of angler John Wickham and other charges. Cumalo, an illegal migrant, pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated robbery, attempting to defeat the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The incident occurred in November 2023 in Dullstroom, where Cumalo invaded Wickham's guest house with the intention of robbery. After an altercation, Cumalo fatally shot Wickham and fled with stolen belongings. He was apprehended in January 2024 after investigators tracked Wickham's stolen cellphone. The National Prosecuting Authority NPA commended the investigative and prosecution teams, emphasizing its commitment to vigorously pursuing such cases to ensure accountability and deterrence.
Must ReadPatients in Gauteng are facing waiting times of three to ten years for hip replacement surgery in public hospitals. Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko attributed these delays to several factors, including a high proportion of undigitized backlog cases, theatre downtime due to equipment and staffing constraints, implant and consumable availability issues, and increased referrals to tertiary and central hospitals. Mazibuko also cited a water shortage in June that led to surgery cancellations and postponements, and frequent chiller breakages causing uncontrollable theatre temperatures. To address the crisis, she has pledged to recruit additional specialized clinicians and prioritize theatre equipment repairs. Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, Helen Joseph, Tembisa, Kalafong, and Sebokeng hospitals have the longest waiting times for hip replacement surgery, while smaller facilities like Mamelodi, Edenvale, Leratong, Far East Rand, and Steve Biko Hospital have shorter waits. Jack Bloom, DA shadow health MEC, highlighted a case where a patient's knee operation at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is scheduled for July 2032. Bloom stated that the extensive surgical backlog indicates a health system in crisis, causing patients to endure years of pain and disability, and that delayed treatment often worsens conditions and increases long-term costs. Lindiwe Mahlangu, a Positive Women Network Gauteng representative, condemned the situation, noting that over 26,000 pati