The ANC has taken an early lead in the 2026 South Africa municipal elections, securing control of three councils and leading in eight others, according to the IEC results dashboard. With 15% of votes counted, the party has accumulated 120 seats, ahead of the DA with 81. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has also performed strongly, surpassing several larger parties in council seat allocations. The IEC reported the early results on Thursday morning, highlighting the ANC's dominance in local government control. The DA remains the second-largest party, but its lead is narrowing. The PA's performance has surprised analysts, as it has outperformed expectations in several key areas. The election results reflect shifting political dynamics in South Africa's local governance. The full results will be released as more votes are counted. The IEC continues to monitor the election process closely.