Local elections held in the country yesterday, August 3, 2016.

South Africans are expecting the results of local elections that took place on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 in all districts and local municipalities in all nine provinces. The local poll represent a veritable test  for the continuous popularity of the ruling African National Congress (ANC)  that has dominated  South Africa’s political landscape  since the first post-apartheid  all-race elections in 1994.

The context and political atmosphere of the election are likely not to give the ruling ANC the hitherto dominate victory as President Jacob Zuma, a baron of the party is going through political turmoil. Indeed, the  vote came a month after South Africa's treasury recommended President Zuma pay back 509,000  U.S. Dollars  to the government for upgrades made to his private home.  

South Africa’s Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that Mr Zuma repay some of the 23 million U.S. Dollars of public funds spent on his house in 2009, ruling that he had violated the constitution by earlier failing to repay some of the money. Faced with the scandal, BBC reported some ANC senior officials as saying that Jacob Zuma should stand down, with analysts reportedly saying that the calls would increase if the ANC does badly in these elections.

The ruling ANC is facing pressure from two parties; the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters, who yesterday competed in their first local election under firebrand leader Julius Malema. The polls also held under tight security after a number of ANC local councilors were shot dead - thought to be the result of in-fighting - in the final weeks of campaigning. BBC reported polls showing that the ruling ANC may lose control of three key cities - Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.