By Thebe Mabanga
The ANC secured victories in three wards during crucial by-elections held in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape, while the DA tightened its hold on Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
The MK Party, EFF and the IFP won no seats but all polled higher than the DA, which benefited from the location and concentration of voters in a stronghold area of Stellenbosch.
In Ward 24 in Gauteng, encompassing Freedom Park, Power Park and the Motswaledi informal settlement, Siyakudumisa “Budget” Makaula of the ANC secured victory with 54.76% of the vote.
The win ensured the ANC maintained its seat, previously won with 55.7% during the 2021 Local Government Elections, despite a voter turnout of 27.37%.
In KwaZulu-Natal, where the ANC has experienced a series of significant losses to the MK Party, the party managed to retain its seat in Ward 4 of the Mpofana Local Municipality. Located in the eastern part of the region, the ward was won by Makhosazana Bhengu, who secured 51% of the vote, down from 68% in the 2021 elections.
The IFP came second with 25,2 % of the vote while the MKP came third with 22,5%. Voter turnout was 63,67%.
In the Northern Cape, the ANC won Ward 5 in the Nama Khoi Local Municipality – covering Springbok, Steinkopf, Okiep, and Rooiwinkel – taking the seat from the Namakwa Civic Movement.
Simon Kleinbooi won the seat by 37% from a total voter turnout of 64,6%.
Isabelle De Taillefer is the new DA councilor in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, after the party retained its seat with 94,7% of the vote, up from 85,59 % in the 2021 elections.
In a statement released on Thursday, the ANC welcomed the victories as “a confirmation of continued relevance” noting “The outcomes of these by-elections reflect more than just electoral victories, they are a reaffirmation of our values, and an endorsement of the ongoing work of renewal across our structures and communities.”
Taken across all contested wards, the ANC won 49% support, followed by MK with 17,51%. The EFF received 9,26% and IFP received 8,94%. The DA polled 4,81% with its solitary seat.
This led Floyd Shivambu, the General Secretary of the MK to declare through X, formerly known as Twittter, that although they did not win any ward, “our volunteers and candidates fought a good fight against abuse of state resources, threats and intimidation by GNU forces.”
Shivambu went on to add, “uMkhonto Wesizwe remains a formidable force…We are not a small or regional party”.
The next by-election will be held on the 28th of May.
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