By Johnathan Paoli
The latest round of municipal by-elections has revealed shifting political dynamics across South Africa, with notable victories for the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance and the Patriotic Alliance in three tightly contested wards.
The by-elections took place in Tshwane (Ward 56 – Hatfield/Brooklyn), Knysna (Ward 8 – Concordia/Joodse Kamp), and Mossel Bay (Ward 9 – D’Almeida/Tarka).
In Tshwane, the DA retained its traditional stronghold with a commanding 80% of the vote, a dramatic increase from its 2024 general election performance of 50% in the same ward.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of DA councillor Jarad Frimmel in April.
Newly elected councillor Tiaan Dippenaar will now represent areas including Hatfield, Brooklyn, New Muckleneuk and Hillcrest.
The ward recorded a voter turnout of just 12%, with DA dominance especially visible in Nieuw Muckleneuk, where more residents turned out than in the larger Hatfield area.
Dippenaar, who has prioritised service delivery, notably the restoration of the neglected Hillcrest swimming pool and pothole repairs, credited the win to the DA’s strong connection with the community.
“We’re ready to fight for the residents,” he said.
The DA’s victory comes amidst criticism of the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalitions governing other Gauteng municipalities.
DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink said the result signalled growing momentum for the DA.
“It is clear that the current ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition leaves little hope for the people of Tshwane. This by-election result is an affirmation of the city’s belief in the DA. The 2026 elections are around the corner, and the DA is committed to ensuring that stability and effective leadership returns to the City of Tshwane, but that can only happen with a strong DA,” he said.
In Knysna’s Ward 8, encompassing Concordia and Joodse Kamp, the ANC retained the seat with 52.1% of the vote, down from 72% in the 2021 municipal elections.
Ndoda Tsengwa will return as ward councillor.
The PA made significant gains, increasing its support from 5% in 2021 to 31.9%, winning the Concordia district outright and beating the EFF and MKP in Joodse Kamp.
The EFF secured 9%, while MKP followed with 5.6%.
Voter turnout was relatively stable at 51%.
The ANC celebrated the result as a “victorious outcome” and a sign of ongoing community trust.
“This is more than a victory at the ballot. It is a demonstration that the ANC continues to inspire trust, even in contested spaces. Where others saw vulnerability, the people saw strength. Where others plotted disruption, the people affirmed continuity,” ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Voting district results from Masifunde Library showed even stronger support for the ANC at 69.2%, although the PA and EFF gained traction in other parts of the ward.
Perhaps the most dramatic outcome of the by-elections came in Ward 9 in Mossel Bay, where the PA unseated the DA in what had been considered a safe seat for the latter.
The PA won 51% of the vote, up from just 7% in the previous municipal elections.
The DA’s share dropped sharply to 39%, while the ANC slipped to 8% from its previous 17%.
The ward, which includes areas like D’Almeida and Tarka, saw a 50% voter turnout.
The PA won two out of three voting districts and tied with the DA in the third.
This victory marks the PA’s first ward win in Mossel Bay, with the party’s Luhein Prins further consolidating its growing presence in the Western Cape and signalling potential new battlegrounds ahead of 2026.
The mixed results have sparked contrasting reactions.
The ANC hailed its Knysna victory as evidence of enduring grassroots support, despite the drop in vote share.
Meanwhile, the DA used its Tshwane landslide to frame itself as the only party capable of restoring stable, service-oriented governance.
The PA’s win in Mossel Bay, however, sent shockwaves across the political spectrum.
With strategic campaigning and appeals to disillusioned voters, the PA has now shown it can challenge both ANC and DA strongholds.
Many have noted that while incumbents largely held their ground in these by-elections, shifts in vote share and turnout highlight voter volatility.
The ANC, in particular, continues to face pressure, having lost more than 40 wards in by-elections nationwide since the 2021 municipal polls.
With the next by-election scheduled for early next month in Motherwell, Nelson Mandela Bay, political parties will be closely watching voter turnout and allegiance shifts, particularly in metros where coalition governments and service delivery frustrations continue to shape the local political landscape.
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