 has delivered one of the most significant upsets in the latest round of by-elections, winning Ward 17 in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, off the National Freedom Party (NFP), while the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) comfortably defended wards in Limpopo and Johannesburg, respectively.){kind=link}
By Johnathan Paoli
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has delivered one of the most significant upsets in the latest round of by-elections, winning Ward 17 in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, off the National Freedom Party (NFP), while the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) comfortably defended wards in Limpopo and Johannesburg, respectively.
In Ward 17 (Bangumuzi Mjiza) in Nongoma, the IFP secured a decisive victory with 59% of the vote, a sharp improvement from the 41% it recorded in the 2021 local government elections.
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The NFP, which previously held the ward with 45%, slumped to just 12%, finishing third behind the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which placed second with 15%.
The ANC finished fourth on 9%, down from 13% in 2021, while smaller parties including the National African People’s Forum (NAPF) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secured 3% and 2% respectively.
Voter turnout dipped slightly to 49%, from 51% in the previous election.
Notably, the IFP swept all voting districts in the ward, underlining the scale of the shift away from the NFP in one of its former strongholds.
The result further consolidates the IFP’s strong start to the 2026 by-election cycle and reshapes the local political dynamics in Nongoma.
Despite the change in ward control, the overall composition of the Nongoma local council remains unchanged from the outcome of the 2021 local government elections.
The IFP now holds 21 seats (up from 20), the NFP 13 (down from 14), the ANC 8, the EFF 2 and the NAPF 1, in a 45-seat council.
Two more by-elections are scheduled in Nongoma next month, and if the IFP captures both seats, it would secure an outright majority in the council.
Elsewhere, the ANC comfortably retained Ward 34 (Badimong Monywaneng) in Polokwane, winning 72% of the vote, although this represented a decline from the 81% it achieved in 2021.
The EFF made notable gains, increasing its share from 14% to 21%, reinforcing its position as the main opposition party in the ward.
Independent candidate Stephen Ramohlola secured 5%, while the South African Communist Party (SACP) continued to struggle electorally, finishing on just 2%.
Turnout was low at 39%, down from 44% previously.
The ward lies close to the headquarters of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Moria, an area traditionally associated with strong ANC support.
In Johannesburg, the DA easily held Ward 102 (Bryanston Bordeaux), securing 95% of the vote, up slightly from 94% in 2021.
The ANC trailed far behind on 3%, unchanged from the previous election, while the ACP and MKP each polled around 1%.
Turnout remained extremely low at 18%, marginally higher than the 17% recorded last time.
The by-election followed the resignation of the previous DA councillor.
The DA dominated the poll, winning 99% of the vote in Bryanston itself, though participation in Bordeaux once again lagged significantly.
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Reacting to the result, the DA’s Gauteng structure hailed the outcome as a clear endorsement of its governance record.
“Another community puts its trust in the DA to deliver. The DA difference is driving South Africa forward!” the party said on social media platform X.
The next round of by-elections will be on 18 March, with the NFP defending two seats in Nongoma, while the ANC will contest a seat in AbaQulusi, as well as defend wards in Beyers Naudé, Buffalo City and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela municipalities.