​Thembisa Shologu
President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked South Africans who cast their ballots at this year's Local Government Elections. 
"I want to thank the 12 million South Africans who cast their ballots in this election. By performing this important civic duty, you have contributed to strengthening and consolidating democracy," said Ramaphosa. 
He was speaking at the announcement of the election results in Pretoria on Thursday.
This Local Government Election, held 1 November, was contested by a record 325 political parties and nearly 95,000 candidates, of whom over 1,500 were independent candidates.
In terms of the 213 municipalities contested nationally:
The African National Congress (ANC) achieved a majority in 161 Municipalities
The Democratic Alliance (DA) achieved a majority in 13 Municipalities
And the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) achieved a majority in 10 municipalities.
In 66 municipalities no party achieved a majority – which are known as hung councils.
 In the contested metropolitan councils in Gauteng province, the top three parties are:
 Ekurhuleni
ANC 38.19%
DA 28.72%
EFF 13.57%
 City of Johannesburg
ANC 33.60%
DA 26.47%
ACTION SA 16.05%
 City of Tshwane
ANC 34.31%
DA 32.34%
EFF 10.62%
President Ramaphosa said now is time for elected councillors to get down to work and serve communities. 
"Public representatives need to be more visible and active in our communities. They need to focus on implementation and make the people partners in development. Above all, they need to listen to the communities they serve."
The President said the local government should be a force for good development and progress.
"If we are to make this a new and better era, we, as leaders, must put aside our differences and work together in a spirit of partnership and common purpose. 
"We owe it to the millions of South Africans who voted in this election to bring about the change they are asking for," he said. 
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson, Glen Mashinini declared the elections as free and fair despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, truncated time frame, power interruptions and logistical glitches.
"Despite these challenges, we achieved our innovative objectives of taking our electoral system to the next level of automation through the introduction of the voter management device, which has put paid to the possibility that there could ever be allegations double voting.
"The fact that we are here today, having delivered these elections is an achievement we should all be proud of as a nation. Our thriving, vibrant and maturing democracy has indeed withstood the test thrown at it," said Mashinini.