In an unprecedented development, the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party since the end of apartheid in 1994, has recorded its worst-ever performance in local elections. Winning only 31% of the overall vote compared to 46% in 2021 and a stark contrast from the 65% it garnered two decades ago, the ANC's decline is evident across provinces and cities. The party managed to secure a majority in just one province, Limpopo, as opposed to six in the previous elections, and won the most votes in only two out of eight cities, compared to six at the last local elections. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) retained majority control of Cape Town and unseated the ANC as winner in Durban, with former president Jacob Zuma's MK party securing third place overall. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), once seen as a serious challenge to the ANC, came fourth. "This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC," said secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who leads the ANC, accepted the verdict with humility, acknowledging concerns over the decline in support due to poor service delivery and infrastructure issues across the country. The elections also saw a significant shift in voting patterns, with the DA gaining more black votes, indicating a possible move towards post-racial voting patterns in South Africa. The ANC now faces coalition building for local municipalities, particularly in Gauteng province, which houses the country's powerhouse cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, where it may find itself shut out. As Ramaphosa comes to the end of his term next year, the party will elect a new leader, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape of South Africa, moving away from the dominance of liberation movement parties that has been evident since the end of apartheid.