Update@Noon

With over 130 hung councils emerging following the 2026 local government elections, President Cyril Ramphosa has urged political parties to approach their coalition talks with maturity and to be guided by what will best serve the people. He was speaking at the IEC Results Operations Centre in Midrand, east of Johannesburg last night. The president said parties must rise above their differences and work together for their communities. Ntebo Mokobo has more.

KwaZulu-Natal has 34 hung municipalities, with no party securing an outright majority, according to IEC. The results show that the uMkhontoweSizwe Party is leading in the province in terms of the overall share of valid votes, but its performance has not translated into outright control of most municipalities. The MKP secured 34-point-31 percent of the valid votes, winning 584 seats and leading in 18 councils. The IFP is leading in 19 councils, the highest number in the province, with 20-point-18 percent of the valid votes and 458 seats. The ANC has received 20-point-28 percent of the valid votes, securing 353 seats and leading in three councils.

A political analyst believes that the outcome of the recent local government elections, which resulted in 16 hung councils in municipalities across the Western Cape may create difficulties for political parties to find common ground when it comes to coalition discussions. These councils will now need coalitions as no party secured an outright majority, with the DA leading in most of those councils. Andile Mbanjwa reports...

The DA in George in the Western Cape has held a victory parade to celebrate its majority win in the local government elections. The party was at just over 46 percent in the previous election, forcing it to government through a coalition with the FF Plus and ACDP. It has now won 28 out of 55 council seats after securing just over 50 percent voter supporter this week. Sagree Chetty reports...

The ANC lost its outright majority in nine Eastern Cape municipalities -- including the Buffalo City Metro -- a major blow to one of its traditional strongholds. Although the party remains the largest in the province, with 701 seats and control of 18 councils, its support fell sharply in several areas. In Buffalo City, it dropped from more than 59 percent in 2021 to just below 42 percent now. The UDM garnered more than 18 percent of the vote in Buffalo City. Coalition talks now loom. Ntombozuko Balintulo reports...