• The African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) retained their respective seats in the recent municipal by-elections held in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.
• There was a slight variation in voting percentages compared to the 2021 Municipal Elections. The DA’s vote share increased in Lesedi Municipality, while it decreased in Ekurhuleni Municipality. For the ANC, there was a marginal decline in both the wards they contested.
• The voter turnout was generally lower than in the 2021 Municipal Elections, indicating a potential challenge of voter mobilisation for both parties moving forward.

Johannesburg – Municipal by-elections in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal held yesterday concluded with the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) retaining their seats from the 2021 Municipal Elections, according to the Electoral Commission.

In the DA camp, Daniel Jacobus Christoffel Putter will represent ward 25 in the Ekurhuleni Municipality of Gauteng. Putter secured 66.12% of the total votes cast, a slight drop from the 69.72% won during the 2021 elections. Voter turnout stood at 25.65%.

For ward 08 in the Lesedi Municipality of Gauteng, Yvonne Combrinck successfully held her ground. Combrinck received 52.45% of the total votes cast, a minor increase from the 50.86% in the 2021 elections. The voter turnout here was higher at 32.32%.

In ward 73 of the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, Daniel Logan Mea of DA emerged victorious with a significant surge in the total votes cast from 67.47% in 2021 to 81.74% this year. However, the voter turnout was slightly lower at 27.23%.

On the ANC side, Ngcebo Richman Dludla retained his position in ward 15, Mandeni Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. Dludla received 67.94% of the total votes cast, a marginal decrease from the 70.05% during the 2021 Municipal Elections. The ward witnessed a higher voter turnout of 36.37%.

Lastly, Leonard Thembinkosi Sosibo held the ANC fort in ward 12, uMzimkhulu Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. Despite winning 65.73% of the total votes cast, a significant drop from the 79.49% in the 2021 elections was observed. Nevertheless, this ward recorded the highest voter turnout of 51.91%.

The retained seats by both parties indicate a maintained status quo in the political landscape. The slightly lower voter turnout in these by-elections compared to the 2021 Municipal Elections suggests that voter mobilisation remains a vital concern for both parties.

With the conclusion of these by-elections, focus now shifts to the national elections, where the parties’ ability to maintain their influence and galvanise voters will face its ultimate test.

Table 1: Democratic Alliance (DA) By-Election Results

Table 2: African National Congress (ANC) By-Election Results