The ANC has, however, retained 21 municipalities out of 26. OFM News previously reported that there are at least ten hung councils in municipalities such as Nama Khoi, Thembelihle, Kgatelopele, and Gamagara, amongst others. The ANC has retained the province with a margin of 50% which is down by 8% compared to the 58% attained the in the previous local government elections in 2016.

The ANC has further retained municipalities, such as the Kimberley-based Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, which was hotly contested.

The overall provincial vote capture shows the ANC support base at 50.76%, followed by the DA with 19.6% and the EFF with 10.39%. The ruling party has received over 300,000 votes, the DA over 120,000, and the EFF over 60,000 votes.

READ MORE: Coalition Government looms in ten NC municipalities

The ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in the Northern Cape previously denied the projection done by the market-research company Ipsos and analysts, that its support base drop down to at least 30% to 40% during the 2021 municipal elections.

The Provincial Secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, said the analysis done by many analysts on the decline of the party in many municipalities lacks fundamental scientific reflection. He instead says the ANC in the Northern Cape, especially in municipalities such as the Kimberley-based Sol Plaatje Municipality, will see improved results.

READ MORE: NC PEC refutes decline projection

"We are seeing an improvement in how municipalities spend their monies. We are engaging on a regular basis with all the councillors across the length and breadth of the province. And we are insisting that money meant for service delivery, in particular infrastructure, should be used and we have seen an improvement. In fact, we have seen a reduction in irregular expenditure and fruitless expenditure," he added.

OFM News