With 92% of voting districts declared nationally, the African National Congress (ANC) is continuing to lose ground in key cities and municipalities across the country.
Predictions from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) point to another significant decline in support in Rustenburg in the North West.
With 44% of the voting districts declared in Rustenburg, the ANC is predicted to receive 38% of support in the city.
This is 10 percentage points lower than the 2021 local government election.
It is in stark contrast to the 74% of support the ANC enjoyed in Rustenburg in the 2011 election, pointing to a long-term decline for the party.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is also predicted to lose support in Rustenburg at 15%, down from 18% in 2021. The projections also point to increased support for smaller parties in the municipality, further fragmenting the political landscape.