The elections 2021 South Africa voters took part in were the local government elections of 1 November 2021, and they marked a turning point: the ANC fell below 50% of the national vote for the first time. The party took 46.04%, down from 53.91% in 2016, while 66 municipalities ended up with no party holding an outright majority. Turnout was low, at roughly 47% of registered voters.
Voting day 2021 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Voting day | Monday, 1 November 2021 |
| Type of election | Local government (municipal councils) |
| Registered voters | About 26.1 million |
| Votes cast | About 12.3 million |
| Turnout | Roughly 47% |
| Results announced | 4 November 2021, by the IEC |
Local elections choose municipal councils, not the national government. Voters elect ward councillors directly and also vote for parties, which receive proportional seats on the council.
Elections 2021 South Africa: the results
| Party | 2016 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| ANC | 53.91% | 46.04% |
| DA | 26.9% | 21.84% |
The ANC still retained 161 municipalities, the DA won outright majorities in 13 and the IFP in 10. The bigger story was fragmentation: 66 municipalities were hung, meaning coalitions or minority governments had to be formed.
Why the 2021 elections mattered
- The ANC below 50%. For the first time in a national vote count since 1994, the governing party did not win a majority of votes.
- Coalition politics in the cities. Several of the largest metros had no outright winner, so local governments depended on deals between parties.
- Low turnout. Fewer than half of registered voters took part, and many eligible South Africans were not registered at all.
These trends continued into the 2024 national elections, when the ANC again fell short of a majority and South Africa moved to a national coalition government.
Voting day 2019 vs voting day 2021
| 8 May 2019 | 1 November 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Election | National and provincial | Local government |
| What voters chose | National Assembly and provincial legislatures | Municipal councils |
| Who governs as a result | National and provincial governments | Municipalities |
National and local elections are different contests: turnout tends to be lower at local level, and local issues such as service delivery play a bigger role.
How to read South African election results
- Check the type of election. National, provincial and local results are not directly comparable.
- Look at seats as well as votes. In local elections, ward wins and proportional seats combine to decide councils.
- Count hung councils. The share of councils without a majority tells you how much coalition-building is coming.
- Use official results. The IEC publishes the final results and seat allocations.
How local elections work
South Africa uses a mixed system for local government. In metropolitan municipalities, voters get two ballots: one for a ward councillor and one for a party (the proportional ballot). In local municipalities that fall under a district, voters also get a third ballot for the district council. Half of a council's seats are ward seats and the rest are allocated so that each party's total reflects its share of the proportional vote.
That is why a party can win many wards and still need partners: the proportional seats balance the council.
The metros after 2021
Some of the biggest prizes were the metros. Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni were among the councils where no party won a majority, so mayors were elected through coalition deals. In the years that followed, several of these coalitions proved unstable, with mayors replaced through council votes. For anyone following South African politics, the 2021 results were a preview of how much coalition arithmetic would matter.
How to vote in future elections
To vote, you must be registered on the voters' roll, at the voting district where you live. You can check your registration with the IEC, and update your address if you have moved. On voting day you need your green ID book, smart ID card or a valid temporary identity certificate.
Elections and prediction markets
In a fragmented system, the questions that matter go beyond "who gets the most votes": will a party pass 50%, who controls a metro, which coalition forms. Those are the kinds of outcomes prediction markets try to price. Read elections in South Africa and the IEC for the basics, and polls vs prediction markets for how the two signals differ. Every market depends on its resolution source, usually official IEC results. If you want to work for the IEC at the next election, see IEC vacancies.
Next step
Want to try it yourself? Follow our guide on how to sign up for Polymarket, then see how to deposit and how to place your first trade. Start small and only use money you can afford to lose. Check where Polymarket is available before you begin.