ANC records worst poll result, admits S.Africans 'disappointed' with the party

FILE PHOTO: Election officials count ballots after the closing of the local government elections, at a farm in Alewynspoort, outside Johannesburg, South Africa November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday was nursing a fresh political headache after its worst election result, as local polls showed support for the legacy party of Nelson Mandela dipping below half for the first time.

Results from 99% of polling stations in local elections gave it 46% of votes cast, suggesting anger over corruption and poor service delivery had led some voters to defect from the party of the country's liberation hero, and others to stay away.