By Johnathan Paoli
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and African National Congress (ANC) both emerged from Wednesday’s by-elections with significant victories, each consolidating their bases in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo respectively, while new challengers struggled to make inroads.
In eThekwini’s Ward 56, covering Montclair and Yellowwood Park, the DA secured a resounding hold with 63% of the vote, an improvement from its 56% showing in 2021.
The party’s margin was notable not only for its growth but also because it reclaimed all three Montclair voting districts that had swung to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in the 2024 general elections.
MK, contesting its first by-election in the ward, finished a distant second on 22%, while the ANC collapsed to just 10%, down from 24%.
Smaller players fared poorly, with Rise Mzansi on 3%, the EFF slipping from 6% to 1%, and local parties falling below 1%.
Turnout, however, fell sharply to 24%, compared to 41% in 2021.
Despite this, the DA has described its performance as an “impressive hold,” given that by-elections often favour governing parties in the ward.
KwaZulu-Natal DA leader Francois Rodgers hailed the outcome as proof that voters were rejecting both ANC governance failures and MK’s divisive rhetoric.
“The voters of Ward 56 have spoken; they have said no to the small parties who only want to divide our communities. Momentum is firmly behind the DA as we kickstart our campaign to rescue and rebuild eThekwini,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers also praised newly elected councillor Norman Gilbert, noting his grassroots work with residents.
The DA is expected to announce its eThekwini mayoral candidate next week, a move designed to capitalise on the momentum from the by-election.
For the ANC, the result was sobering.
Once competitive in southern Durban, the party has now slipped into third place, behind both the DA and MK.
Analysts have suggested that the ANC’s collapse in urban middle-class wards underlined its growing reliance on rural strongholds.
One of those strongholds proved decisive on the same day in Limpopo. In Ward 9 of Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality, centred on Manapsane Moganyaka in Sekhukhune, the ANC delivered a dominant victory, securing 69% of the vote, up from 66% in 2021.
The EFF placed second with 25% (down from 27%), while MK managed 4%. Minor parties like the South African Maintenance and Estate Beneficiaries Association (2%) and Pan Africanist Congress (1%) trailed far behind.
Turnout was 49%, significantly higher than the 40% recorded in the 2021 local elections, an unusual development in South African by-elections, where participation typically declines.
ANC deployees, including Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, campaigned visibly on voting day, touring stations with senior provincial figures.
Following the result, Ramathuba thanked residents for reaffirming their trust in the party.
“Sekhukhune, thank you for believing in us once more with an increased margin and voter turnout. We shall not disappoint,” she posted on social media.
The next test for the DA and ANC comes on 1 October, when the ANC will defend three seats in Tshwane (Mamelodi East), Emalahleni (Kriel), and Elundini (rural Eastern Cape).
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