South Africa’s ruling party has suffered losses in this year’s elections as support for the ANC plunged from 61.9%% in 2011 to 53.91% in 2016, according to IEC data.

Despite the ANC having an overall national majority, the party has shed significant support in South Africa’s major urban areas, putting into question the future of dozens of its councillors.

Final results from this year’s elections indicate that the ANC has either lost or failed to secure over 50% support in five of South Africa’s six major metropolitan areas.

“Revolutions do not start in rural areas,” said News24 analyst Ralph Mathekga on Friday.

“You have a rapid flow of information in urban areas, you have access to information, you have more interaction. You have a population density that makes it difficult for people to avoid political discourse.

“That is why the people in urban areas are usually first to ‘uprise’ as well. But the issues in urban areas are usually different as well,” said Mathekga.

The only major city where the ANC has over 50% of the vote this year is eThekwini.

In all of the metropolitan areas, the ANC has lost a total of 106 seats when compared to the 2011 local government elections’ results. Below is the breakdown which has been calculated according to IEC data:

Johannesburg:

This city has a total of 270 seats as part of its council.

In 2011, the ANC (with 58.56% of the vote) had 153 seats while the DA (34.62%) had 90 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 44.55% of the vote) has 121 seats versus the DA (38.37%) which has 104 seats, and the EFF (11.09%) with 30 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 32 seats.

Tshwane:

This city in 2016 has a total of 214 seats as part of its council

In 2011, the ANC (with 55.32% of the vote) had 118 seats while the DA (38.65%) had 82 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 41.22% of the vote) has 89 seats versus the DA (43.11%) which has 93 seats, and the EFF (11.7%) with 25 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 29 seats.

Ekurhuleni:

This city in 2016 has a total of 224 seats as part of its council

In 2011, the ANC (with 61.63% of the vote) had 125 seats while the DA (30.29%) had 62 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 48.64% of the vote) has 109 seats versus the DA (33.65%) which has 77 seats, and the EFF (11.23%) with 25 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 16 seats.

Cape Town:

This city in 2016 has a total of 231 seats as part of its council

In 2011, the ANC (with 32.8% of the vote) had 73 seats while the DA (60.92%) had 135 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 24.36% of the vote) has 57 seats versus the DA (66.61%) which has 154 seats, and the EFF (3.17%) with 7 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 16 seats.

Nelson Mandela Bay:

This city in 2016 has a total of 120 seats as part of its council

In 2011, the ANC (with 51.97% of the vote) had 63 seats while the DA (40.13%) had 48 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 40.92% of the vote) has 50 seats versus the DA (46.71%) which has 57 seats, and the EFF (5.12%) with 6 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 13 seats.

eThekwini:

This city in 2016 has a total of 215 seats as part of its council

In 2011, the ANC (with 61.07% of the vote) had 126 seats while the DA (21.02%) had 43 seats.

In 2016, the ANC now (with 56.01% of the vote) still has 126 seats versus the DA (26.66%) which has 61 seats, the IFP (4.21%) with 10 seats and the EFF (3.44%) with 8 seats.

ANC’s seats total loss between 2011-2016: 0 seats.

Total ANC seats loss in these six metros: 106