Women voters could hold a crucial key to South Africa’s political future as parties prepare for the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections.
New research suggests women remain an important electoral advantage for the ANC, despite declining support for the party.
It also points to what rival parties must do to win more women.
The findings come from the Institute of Race Relations’ 2026 polling report, which examines six years of polling from 2021 to 2026. The research tracks changing political preferences among women during a period of growing competition between political parties.
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