BLOEMFONTEIN, Free State — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has secured a crucial victory in Ward 19 following a vote recount in the 2026 local elections, significantly impacting the political landscape in the Mangaung Metro and the broader Free State.
Werner Pretorius, DA Free State chairperson and the party’s mayoral candidate for Mangaung, confirmed the successful outcome of the recount. After the party lodged a Section 65 dispute alongside the EFF and the Freedom Front Plus, the DA emerged victorious in Ward 19 by 41 votes, overturning a previous two-vote deficit.
This hard-fought win tightens the race in the 101-seat metropolitan municipality. Following the recount, the ANC holds 35 seats while the DA holds 34 seats, requiring 51 seats to secure a majority.
Mixed Results in the Metro
The 2026 local elections delivered a complex political picture for the DA in the province’s only metro. While the party achieved exponential growth—increasing its vote share by 8% from 26% in 2021 to 33.5%—it fell just short of taking overall control.
The ANC currently sits at 33.9% of the vote. Pretorius described the overall metro result as bittersweet, noting that the DA lost the broader municipal race to the ANC by a mere 1,900 votes. Despite the narrow margin, Pretorius emphasized that the party is entering the upcoming 14-day negotiation period to constitute a council, elect a mayor, and appoint a speaker with a much stronger hand than in the previous election cycle.
Coalition Negotiations and Service Delivery
With no single party holding a majority, coalition negotiations are critical. Pretorius stated that the DA’s primary focus remains on the people, prioritizing improved service delivery and addressing massive job losses in the region.
The party remains open to various governance models. Pretorius confirmed that the DA will consider forming a coalition, establishing an oversight model, or serving as the official opposition, provided that the chosen path ensures the municipality fulfills its constitutional mandate and delivers essential services to residents.
Provincial Shifts and Hung Councils
The political shifts extend well beyond the Mangaung Metro. The Free State now has 15 out of 19 municipalities operating as hung councils, a dramatic increase from just four in 2021.
Pretorius highlighted the DA’s broader provincial gains, noting that the party captured six wards in Machabeng, three in Masilonyana, and two wards each in Moqhaka and Tokologo. These gains indicate a changing political loyalty across the province.
As the 14-day window to form councils begins, Pretorius stressed the need for a holistic approach to negotiations. He called on all political parties to set aside their differences and look at the entire province as a whole to determine what governance structures will work best.
Ultimately, Pretorius urged his political counterparts to recognize that local government is the engine room of the economy, insisting that the lives and livelihoods of the residents must be the absolute first priority in all upcoming coalition talks.
