By Johnathan Paoli
The PA has secured another by-election victory in Oudtshoorn, defeating the ANC in Ward 5 (Bridgton Smartie Town) and consolidating its rise in the municipality ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The ANC had lost a second successive ward to the PA in the Karoo town, while holding on in Dunoon with a reduced majority.
PA leader Gayton McKenzie said the victory is a reflection of grassroots support.
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“Ward 5 belongs to the people of Oudtshoorn. Congratulations to Cllr Loretta Ryneveld on a decisive victory for the Patriotic Alliance. This is what people power looks like!” McKenzie said.
The PA won the ward with about 44% of the vote, sharply up from its 2021 level of roughly 12%, while the ANC finished on about 34%. ICOSA secured about 21%, with other parties receiving negligible support.
Voter turnout rose to about 51%, up from about 45% in the previous comparable contest.
The result marks the second successive ward loss for the ANC to the PA in Oudtshoorn.
The party’s performance represents a dramatic turnaround from the 2021 local government elections, where it attracted only a small share of support across the municipality. In the latest contest alone, the PA secured close to 1,000 votes in Ward 5.
While the PA’s surge in Oudtshoorn drew attention, the ANC managed to retain Ward 104 in Dunoon (an ANC stronghold) despite a notable drop in support.
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The ANC secured about 47% of the vote, down sharply from its 2021 level, and fell below the 50% mark in a ward long regarded as one of its stronger areas. The EFF placed second and the DA increased its support significantly. Voter turnout, however, declined to about 27% from about 39%.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula welcomed the result despite the reduced majority.
“Congratulations to the ANC in the Western Cape, Dullah Omar region for winning Ward 104 in Dunoon and thank you to all our voters for coming out to vote ANC. Indeed this is the year of decisive action,” Mbalula said.
The DA, while not contesting the Oudtshoorn ward, said its improved performance in Dunoon was a sign of growing support in traditionally ANC-dominated areas.
“The DA is delighted to have made significant strides in the Ward 104, City of Cape Town by-election. The DA’s support has more than doubled in Du Noon since 2021. Our commitment to uplifting communities is delivering results, and more voters are giving up on the ANC,” Western Cape DA leader Tertius Simmers said.
He added that the party would intensify its efforts ahead of the local government elections.
A three-week break now follows before the next by-election on 15 April, when the ANC is due to defend a seat in Sakhisizwe in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape.