14 wards were up for grabs in Thursday’s highly contested by-elections that saw the Democratic Alliance (DA) clutch at straws to retain a foothold in the Western Cape.
By-elections: Smaller parties hurt DA
Ward councils in seven provinces were open for new leadership and it was in every party’s interest to strengthen its position ahead of this year’s local government elections.
In the Western Cape, three wards were in contention. Of these, the DA only managed to retain one, with Dineo Masiu piecing together a 50.73% victory over EFF’s Khanyiso Fodo and the ANC’s Mlamleli Mthini, in the fight for control over the Delft region.
The Cape Coloured Congress proved to be the thorn on the DA’s side, with 19% of the votes collected in the hotly contested ward, exposing, once again, the opposition party’s Achilles heel.
The ruling party stole the show in the Western Cape, with landmark victories in Knysna and Beaufort West.
By-election results for Thursday 21 April 2021
Here are the full by-election results from the 14 wards that were in contention, on Thursday:
PROVINCE | MUNICIPALITY | WINNING PARTY | VOTE % |
KwaZulu-Natal | Umzimkhulu | ANC | 67.67 |
Ethekwini | ANC | 63.98 | |
KwaDukuza | IFP | 38.59 | |
Ubuhlebezwe | ANC | 69.65 | |
Maphumulo – 52904005 | ANC | 47.58 | |
Maphumulo – 52904007 | ANC | 52.87 | |
Limpopo | Greater Letaba | ANC | 83.16 |
Mpumalanga | Lekwa | ANC | 77.62 |
Northern Cape | Ga-Segonyana | ANC | 80.94 |
Nama Khoi | ANC | 54.26 | |
North West | Madibeng | ANC | 86.32 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | DA | 50.73 |
Beaufort West | ANC | 43.24 | |
Knysna | ANC | 48.87 |