DA Claims Breakthrough Among Black Voters
The Democratic Alliance says internal projections show more than one million black South Africans voted for the party for the first time in local government elections.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in City Hall
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The Democratic Alliance claimed on Thursday, at the Results Operations Centre in Midrand, that its parallel vote tabulation projections show more than one million black South Africans voted for the party for the first time. The party also claimed it received more black votes than the Economic Freedom Fighters in the local government elections held on Wednesday.
Why it matters
If confirmed, the figures would signal a shift in voter support across South Africa's townships ahead of the country's political realignment. The projections remain unofficial and pending final certification by the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
The DA's projections are based on its own parallel vote tabulation system and remain unofficial until the IEC certifies final results. The party has not released a full breakdown of the methodology used to derive the township and ward figures.
The players
Democratic Alliance (DA)
The Democratic Alliance is one of South Africa's major opposition parties and has governed the Western Cape province.
Ashor Sarupen
Ashor Sarupen is the first deputy chairperson of the DA Federal Council and spoke to the media on the party's projections.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)
The Electoral Commission of South Africa is the independent body responsible for managing and certifying national and local elections.
The details
Ashor Sarupen, DA Federal Council first deputy chairperson, presented the projections to the media at the Results Operations Centre. The party also said it expects to pick up wards from the MK Party in the uMngeni Municipality, which it said was heavily indebted and in disarray five years ago.
Timeline
4 November 2026: Local government elections voting concluded.
5 November 2026: The DA announced its black voter breakthrough claims at Midrand.
Political Context
The claimed gains would challenge the African National Congress's long-standing dominance among black voters in South Africa's townships since the 1994 transition. Critics are likely to question the reliability of parallel vote tabulation projections until the IEC releases certified results.
Voters in township areas may see changes in ward representation depending on the final certified results. The outcome could affect local service delivery priorities in municipalities where control changes hands.
The takeaway
Claims from parallel vote tabulations offer an early indication of voter trends but do not replace certified results. Readers should await the IEC's official outcome before drawing firm conclusions about shifts in black voter support.
Further reading
For more on local political developments, see City Hall coverage across South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Citizen.
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