Opposition takes power in Johannesburg

South Africa's ruling ANC lost control of the economic hub of Johannesburg for the first time since the end of apartheid on Monday, after local government councillors elected an opposition candidate as mayor.

Herman Mashaba of the liberal centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) takes over from incumbent mayor and ANC candidate Parks Tau, just days after the ruling party was also booted from power in the capital Pretoria.

"The mayoral results is as follows: 125 for Parks Tau and 144 for Herman Mashaba," announced city council speaker Vasco da Gama.

Johannesburg, the country's largest city and its economic nerve centre, is the third big metropolitan the ANC has lost in municipal elections this month.