The ANC won three of four wards that held by-elections on Wednesday.
It was a big day for the ANC after walking away with three wards in Wednesday’s by-elections, while the MK party walked away with nothing.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) held four by-elections in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Northern Cape.
The ANC took three of the four wards by strong margins. It retained Freedom Park and Motsoaledi in Johannesburg, with 2 630 votes compared to the MK party’s 1 100.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC retained Mpofana after taking 1 436 votes, compared to the MK party’s 634.
ALSO READ: MK party slams GNU partners for prioritising political expediency before South Africa
The ward was up for contestation following the passing of ANC councillor France Malevu in February
In the Northern Cape, the ANC took a ward from the Namakwa Civic Movement, while the DA retained Ward 9 in Stellenbosch.
ANC celebrates wins
The ANC is in high spirits following the wins, hoping they’re a sign of things to come in the 2026 local government elections.
“The party welcomes the recent by-election results and expresses its full gratitude to the people of Ward 24, Greater Johannesburg Region, for their strong demonstration of commitment to the ANC. The ANC lives, the ANC leads,” said the party on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: ANC denies it approached Zuma and MK party to join GNU
In the Northern Cape, premier Zamani Saul said: “The ANC in the Northern Cape emerges with victory in Ward 5, Namakhoi Municipality. Winning five successive by-elections in the province, taking wards from opposition parties.
“Thanks to our hard-working volunteers and voters of Ward 5 for their confidence and support in the people’s movement. The moment of resurgence of the people’s movement is upon us, watch this space.”
Presenting the Duma Nokwe Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula commended the Gauteng leadership for “reviving” the party.
“Comrade Hope Papo, the Coordinator of the PTT in Gauteng ANC, is doing a great job with his team to revive the ANC in this province. I’m not saying this because I’m patronising you. We can all see that people are busy in Gauteng.
ALSO READ: MK party claims victory over DA to secure first major metro win
“We must build our structures, and we must exorcise the wrong out of the ANC. If it means we must lose friends because we are doing the right thing, then let it be. I just want to encourage comrade Hope and his team to continue representing and doing a great work of reviving and rebuilding the ANC in Gauteng.”
Shivambu: MK party ‘fought a good fight’
MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu acknowledged the losses in Johannesburg and Mpofana and encouraged the leadership to keep fighting.
He blamed the losses on the alleged abuse of state resources and intimidation by the “government of national unity (GNU) forces.”
“We didn’t win Ward 24 in Johannesburg and Ward 4 in Mpofana. Our volunteers and candidates fought a good fight against abuse of state resources, intimidation and threats by GNU forces,” said the MK party secretary-general.
“uMKhonto weSizwe remains a formidable force and will remain as such! We are not a small or regional party. Let’s fight on, commanders. We will correct all these in 2026 and 2029. No surrender! No retreat.”
He said the MK party was busy preparing for the by-elections on 28 May in the Free State.
“We will win Ward 16 Ngwathe in Fezile Dabi Region, Free State Province. No retreat!”
READ NEXT: MK Party ‘no spare wheel for ANC to use’ in budget vote spat
