By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The African National Congress (ANC) has recently fallen to 18% in the Johannesburg polls, compared to the Democratic Alliance (DA), which has grown to a stellar 42%, according to a new poll conducted ahead of South Africa’s November 2026 local government elections.
The survey conducted in Johannesburg covered 504 registered voters between 8 and 31 July and was conducted by Victory Research in tandem with Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation (SRF).
The metro results carry a margin of error of 4.4%, which points to a 95% confidence level. The parties that follow behind the ANC and DA are uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), which sits at 13%, ActionSA, which sits at 10%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which sits at 8%.
These latest numbers in the poll signify a decline for the ANC since an earlier survey was conducted in Johannesburg in March this year. In March, the ANC stood at 30%, compared to 39% for the DA. ActionSA stood at 10%, MKP held 8%, and EFF held 4%.
Between the two surveys, the ANC has dropped 12%, while the DA has increased by three percentage points. The director of the SRF, Gabriel Makin, has emphasised that the DA has shown the most notable promise compared with its previous Johannesburg local election results.
In 2016, the DA held 38.4% of the Johannesburg vote before dropping to 26.47% in the 2021 local government elections. This 42% has proved to be a very significant jump for the DA and would be a turning point if these numbers were reflected at the polls. Makin has also given credit to the campaign led by DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, as she has positioned the party as a beacon for the problems that need fixing around the city.
The DA and ActionSA account for 52% of support in the poll collectively, while the ANC, MKP and EFF stand at 39% collectively, which means that they would have to rely on the support of other parties to give them a push in the polls.
The national survey included participation from 2,214 registered voters and carries a stated margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.