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Vol 67 No 18

Published 11th September 2026


South Africa

Fragmentation reshapes the centre

The municipal elections may end ANC hegemony without producing a new dominant party, leaving power to be contested among a wide field of rivals

The 4 November municipal elections may confirm the end of African National Congress dominance without producing a new hegemon (AC Vol 67 No 11). South Africa’s governing centre is weakening, but power is not passing neatly from the ANC to the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA). Instead, it is dispersing among opposition parties, pressure groups and community movements with modest vote shares yet enough leverage to shape who governs – and on what terms.

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