ANC retains three seats, loses one to PA in by-elections

By Thebe Mabanga  

The African National Congress retained three seats and lost another to the Patriotic Alliance in Wednesday’s by-elections held across the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.

But in a worrying sign for the ANC, it retained power with a reduced majority in most instances, which does not bode well for momentum ahead of next year’s local government elections.  

In the Free State in Ward 16 in Ngwathe Local Municipality in the Fezile Dabi district, the ANC retained its seat with 47 % of the vote. But this was down from 62% in the 2021 local government elections.

The ANC’s new councillor is Martha Motsoeneng. The EFF was another big winner in the ward, raising its share of the vote from 18% to 35%. The MK Party got 15% of the vote from a voter turnout of 56,74%.  

In the Eastern Cape, Kenneth Witbooi won a seat for the ANC in Ward 5 of the Kou Kamma Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District with a borderline victory of 49,66 %, similar to the 50,21%