The EFF pulled off a surprise win in Setsoto (Ficksburg) in the Free State in the sole by-election held this week.
The EFF won 55% of the vote on Wednesday, a significant increase compared to the 15% it won in the 2021 local government election.
The seat had been held by a local party, the Setsoto Service Delivery Forum (SSDF), which had won nearly 40% of the vote in 2021. However, its share of the vote shrank to just below 10% in the by-election.
The ANC, which had won 38% in 2021, saw its support drop down to 32%.
The win will be a boost for the EFF which has struggled in by-elections in recent months and had a disappointing result in the May national election. It remains to be seen whether the Red Berets can keep up this momentum.
[Photo: https://x.com/EFF_FreeState/status/1821458503594119256/photo/1]