Another set of by-elections is sending a clear warning to the African National Congress (ANC) ahead of the 2026 local government elections, as the party has lost yet another ward to the Patriotic Alliance (PA) in the Western Cape.
The by-elections were held in the Western Cape on Wednesd November.
PA SNATCHES WARD FROM ANC IN THE WESTERN CAPE
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) retained their seats in the by-elections while Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance won a seat previously held by the ANC.
The IEC said in ward 23 in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, in the Eastern Cape. The ANC retained the seat it won in the 2021 local government elections with 59,08% of the total votes cast, compared to
67,14% during the 2021 municipal elections,. Voter turnout was 53,45%.
In ward 30 in the City of Cape Town Municipality, Western Cape. The DA retained the seat it won in the 2021 local government elections, with 42,60% of the total votes cast, compared to 60.60% during the 2021 municipal elections. Voter turnout was 34,55%.
In ward 6 in the Matzikama Municipality, also in the Western Cape. The PA won a seat previously held by the ANC in the 2021 Municipal Elections with 39,74% of the total votes cast, compared to 37,76%
during the 2021 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout was 57,92%.
The PA alongside the DA and other parties are part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) which is led by the ANC.
RESULTS FOR BY-ELECTIONS HELD IN OCTOBER
In October, the DA retained five of its seats while the Patriotic Alliance (PA) won a seat in by-elections.
This is in contrast to the results of the by-elections held earlier in October where the African National Congress (ANC) snatched a municipal seat previously held by the DA in the !Kheis Municipality in Northern Cape.
As mentioned above, the Western Cape is one of the DA’s strongholds.
In ward 8 in the City of Cape Town, the party retained the seat it won in the 2021 local government elections, with 85.44% of the total votes cast, compared to 83,82% during the 2021 elections. Voter turnout was 16.85%
In ward 8 in the Stellenbosch Municipality, also in the Western Cape, the party retained the seat it won in the 2021 local government elections, with 98.61% of the total votes cast, compared to 85.13% during the 2021 elections. Voter turnout was 4.25%.
In ward 20 in the George Municipality, also in the Western Cape, the PA won a seat previously won by the GOOD Party in the 2021 local government elections, with 51.86% of the total votes cast, compared to 26.99% during the 2021 elections. Voter turnout was 60.02%.
IS THIS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME FOR THE PATRIOTIC ALLIANCE IN THE 2026 LOCAL ELECTIONS?
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