Johnathan Paoli
The ANC and DA signed off the municipal by-election cycle with comfortable ward victories on Wednesday, each holding ground in different provinces as parties shift their focus to the 4 November local government elections.
In Mpumalanga, the ANC comfortably retained Ward 3 in Bushbuckridge, while the DA secured an overwhelming win in Ward 15 in Rustenburg, North West.
The ANC increased its support in Ward 3, which covers the Mkhuhlu and Calcutta areas of Bushbuckridge, from 67% in the previous comparable by-election to 85% in Wednesday’s by-election.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) dropped from 32% to 15%.
Voter turnout declined to 33%, down from 41% in the previous comparable by-election.
The by-election was triggered by a vacancy in the ward following the death of the ward councillor.
Following the result, the ANC expressed gratitude to voters and party structures that campaigned in the ward.
“The ANC thanks the people of Ward 3, Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, our volunteers, activists and supporters for delivering this important by-election victory. The ANC lives. The ANC leads. Renewal continues,” the party said in a statement posted on social media.
The victory follows an intensive campaign by ANC leaders in the area, including Mpumalanga Deputy Chief Whip Dan Nkosi, who visited voting districts in Ward 3 as part of mobilisation efforts on election day.
The result is likely to bolster ANC confidence in Bushbuckridge, one of the country’s largest municipalities by registered voters, ahead of the November local government elections.
Meanwhile, in Rustenburg, the DA comfortably retained Ward 15, which includes the suburbs of Safari Tuine and Protea Park.
The party increased its share of the vote from 72% in 2021 to 81%, while the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) secured 19%.
The ANC’s support collapsed to below 1%, down from 3% in the previous local government election.
Turnout, however, fell sharply from 50% to 22%.
The by-election was necessitated by a vacancy following the death of the sitting DA ward councillor.
DA North West leader Freddy Sonakile said the outcome reflected voter confidence in the party’s local government record.
“The Democratic Alliance secured a landslide victory in today’s Rustenburg Ward 15 by-election. We express our gratitude and appreciation to every voter that came out today and voted DA to keep Ward 15 in safe and reliable hands to get Rustenburg working again,” Sonakile said.
He congratulated councillor André Van Dyk on his election and said residents had shown confidence in his ability to serve the community.
Sonakile said voters had once again rejected rival parties at the ballot box.
“The Ward 15 by-election was contested by the ANC and the Freedom Front Plus, but yet again, voters rejected these parties at the ballot where it matters because voters recognise the value of electing DA councillors who are active, present, and responsive when service delivery needs arise,” he said.
The DA said the result demonstrated growing support for its message ahead of November’s local government elections and predicted significant electoral gains across North West municipalities.
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