More election polls! New updates Oct 22, 2026

Description

Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh breaks down the latest election polls on SMWX, updating the picture of South Africa’s political landscape and the battle for control of its major metros. What do the new numbers suggest about the ANC, DA, MK Party, EFF, ActionSA and other contenders—and how has the outlook shifted? Sizwe examines where parties are gaining ground or coming under pressure, which races could deliver surprises, and the coalition possibilities that could determine who actually governs after the votes are counted. Looking beyond the headline percentages, this analysis considers voter turnout, undecided voters and the limits of polling to distinguish emerging trends from uncertain predictions. From the contest for Johannesburg to the broader balance of power, we unpack what the latest numbers could mean for South Africa’s local government elections and the country’s political future.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Podcast of the Year
01:36 How the polling averages work
03:01 Johannesburg polling breakdown
04:41 DA coalition options in Johannesburg
06:48 ANC decline and a possible DA partnership
08:26 MK, EFF and ActionSA: the third-place race
10:04 Could a coalition exclude the DA?
11:58 Cape Town: can the DA keep its majority?
14:26 DA metro gains versus national growth
16:05 Nelson Mandela Bay polls and coalitions
19:27 Floyd Shivambu’s coalition proposal
22:46 Viewer questions: parties and polling
27:11 Political divisions and national unity
28:37 Automatic voter registration
29:49 Campaign posters and party resources
30:31 Closing and supporting independent media

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Credits:
Director and DOP: Nomaan Haarzavi for Narr8 Studio
Lead Camera Operator: Faizan Haq for Narr8 Studio
2nd Camera Operator: Yusuf Rahman for Narr8 Studio
Producer: Oratile Kekana