On Wednesday four by-elections were held in various parts of the country, with incumbents defending three seats and the ANC winning a seat off an independent in the Eastern Cape
In Ngqushwa, on the central Eastern Cape coast, close to East London, the ANC didn’t work up too much of a sweat in defending a seat. It won nearly 70% of the vote on Wednesday, with the only resistance coming from the PAC, which won just over 20% of the vote. In the 2021 local government election an independent, Xolani Mangini, had won the seat, with 46% of the vote. However, in Wednesday’s by-election Magini did not stand, and the ANC easily emerged victorious.
In Abaqulusi (Vryheid) in KwaZulu-Natal, the IFP held on to a seat, also without too much trouble. It won just over 50% of the vote, up from the 38% it won in the 2021 local government election. Here the primary resistance was from the ANC with 21%, and MK with 19%.
The third by-election was held in Polokwane, where the EFF defended one of the few ward seats it holds.
In the by-election, it secured 57% of the vote, up from the 50% it won in 2021. The only real resistance in the by-election came from the ANC, which managed just over 40%.
The final by-election was held in Nelson Mandela Bay, where the DA was pushed hard by the PA.
On Wednesday the DA secured 47% of the vote, down from the 62% it won in 2021. The PA managed 43% in the by-election, a significant increase from the 3% it won in 2021.
Most of Wednesday’s winners will be pleased with their day’s work, although the continued PA surge – particularly in coloured communities, and often at the cost of the DA – will be giving the latter’s strategists some sleepless nights.