ANC suffers worst-ever election result in South Africa

The ANC secured 30.76 percent of the vote in South Africa’s municipal elections, its worst result ever, while the Democratic Alliance won about a quarter. More than half of the country’s 213 municipal councils produced no outright majority, setting up difficult coalition talks; turnout was 52 percent. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula acknowledged failures involving water access, refuse collection and road maintenance. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged parties to put communities first, and voting will be repeated in one municipality after ballot papers were destroyed.