Polls Signal Further Decline for South Africa’s ANC

Four national polls released between August and mid-October 2026 point to declining support for South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), growing backing for the Democratic Alliance (DA), and relatively stagnant support for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. The polls show that the ANC’s support has fallen by at least six percentage points from its 40.2% share in the 2024 election. In contrast, the DA has gained at least three percentage points. The findings suggest the ANC is losing its dominant status in South African politics and may increasingly need smaller parties to form governing coalitions in some municipalities.