ANC fends off PA defectors to retain Buffalo City wards in by-elections

Johnathan Paoli

The ANC has emerged as the winner in two Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality by-elections, retaining Ward 1 and Ward 10 despite challenges from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and opposition parties, bolstering the party’s momentum ahead of the Local Government Elections in November.

On Wednesday, the ANC secured Ward 10, which includes Vergenoeg, East Bank, Haven Hills, Egoli and parts of Buffalo Flats.

The result came despite the ward’s former ANC councillor, Pearl Hanse, defecting to the PA before the by-election.

The ANC defeated the PA by 1,631 votes, finishing just short of the two-thirds threshold while securing more than 50% support in all four voting districts, with particularly strong performances at Clements Kadalie Hall (80%, up from 47% in 2021) and Amalinda (79%, up from 71%).

The PA emerged as the main opposition force, finishing second overall (with 13% of the vote, a significant increase from its previous