PA retains Swartland ward in last scheduled WC by-election before LGE

By Johnathan Paoli

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has tightened its hold on Ward 11 in Malmesbury Wesbank, Swartland Municipality, securing a decisive victory in the final currently scheduled Western Cape by-election before the upcoming local government elections.

The party won 53.26% of the vote in Wednesday’s contest, increasing its support from the previous by-election and comfortably retaining a ward it had captured last year.

The DA finished second on 42%, while the ANC slipped to 4%. The TRUTH party received less than 1% of the vote.

Voter turnout rose to 58.15%, a significant increase from the 48% recorded in the previous by-election and a figure that almost matched turnout levels seen during the 2024 national and provincial elections.

The by-election followed the vacancy created by the departure of the previous PA ward councillor, Dihno White, while Moos Jaanse, who previously contested the ward as an independent, stood under the DA