Shocker: South Africa;s ruling party, ANC, has suffers a major setback at the local election currently going on

South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst electoral setback since apartheid ended in 1994.

With 98% of the votes counted after Wednesday's municipal elections, the party has lost the key battleground of Nelson Mandela Bay to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA).

The two parties are in a close fight for Johannesburg and Pretoria.

But the ANC is still in the lead nationally, with 54% of the vote.

The ANC has won more than 60% of the vote at every national election since the end of apartheid more than two decades ago.

South Africa national and local elections 1994-2016.

How DA and EFF have performed against the ANC (* 2016, with almost all results in)

• ANC
• DA (formerly the DP)
• EFF (formed 2013)

Unemployment and corruption scandals surrounding President Jacob Zuma have tarnished the ANC's image.

Named after ANC liberation hero and South Africa's first democratically elected president, the loss of Nelson Mandela Bay is a big blow to the party.

Many of the leaders of the struggle against apartheid come from the area.

BBC reports.

More details will follow as it unveils.