Early metro results: ANC leads Buffalo City, ActionSA eyes coalitions
The Democratic Alliance is not lagging too far behind at 21%, with just more than 20% of votes counted so far.
Babalo Ndenze
ActionSA Eastern Cape chairperson Athol Trollip at the provincial results centre in Buffalo City Metro. Picture: Babalo Ndenze/EWN
Babalo Ndenze/EWN
The African National Congress (ANC) has taken an early lead in the Buffalo City Metro with 38% of the vote, but parties have warned that it is still too early to call.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is not lagging too far behind at 21%, with just more than 20% of votes counted at this hour.
The ANC has also taken an early lead in the Eastern Cape province, with 47% and the most wards.
It is still early days in the province's second biggest metro, but the ANC has shown that it is still the biggest party not just in the municipality, but the whole province.
In Buffalo City, the ANC leads with the DA coming in a close second.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has also shown itself to be the dark horse in the metro, currently in third place with 18% of the votes.
The South African Communist Party (SACP), the ANC's tripartite alliance partner, has also surprised observers, currently in fourth place with 5% of the vote.
But ActionSA provincial leader Athol Trollip says it is still too early to call in the metro, with his party holding just 1% of the votes so far.
"As you said, it is very early days," Trollip said. "I am looking at our municipalities; we only contested five municipalities. It is our first time contesting in the Eastern Cape. It is a tough terrain here. People still vote for the ANC as if it is a culture."
Trollip said his party will be willing to work with any party in a coalition once the final votes have been tallied.