MK Party beats ANC to get its first councillor in Western Cape

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The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has a fresh bounce in its step, after the party won its first ward in the Western Cape, gaining its first councillor in the Democratic Alliance-ran province.

Mzwandile Simon Biko is the new ward councillor for ward 1 in the Saldanha Bay Municipality, after the MK Party snatched the ward from the ANC during a round of by-elections in three provinces on Wednesday.

“The MK Party won a seat previously held by the ANC from the 2021 Municipal Elections, with 36.33% of the total votes cast, compared to 30.25% during the 2021 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout was 55.30%,” the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said in a statement on Thursday morning.

The MK Party garnered 44% of the vote, while the ANC and EFF 31% and 18% respectively. The Patriotic Alliance received 7% of the vote, while the DA received less than 1%.

This latest result means the MK Party, South Africa’s third-biggest party by seats (58) in Parliament, now has ward councillors in three provinces – two in KwaZulu-Natal, one in North West and one in the Western Cape.

And last week, the Jacob Zuma-led organisation took ward 2 in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal from the ANC.

By-election performance Gauteng and Northern Cape

In by-elections results elsewhere, Sthembiso Fortune Hlatshwayo is the new councillor for the ANC in ward 59 in the City of Johannesburg.

“The party retained the seat it won in the 2021 Municipal Elections, with 57.46% of the total votes cast, compared to 48.37% during the 2021 Municipal Elections,” said the IEC.

And in the Northern Cape, the ANC retained ward 1 in the Joe Morolong Municipality.

“The party retained the seat it won in the 2021 Municipal Elections, with 54.12% of the total votes cast, compared to 62.77% during the 2021 Municipal Elections,” the elections body said.