By Johnathan Paoli
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) have both secured by-election victories in the Western Cape, with the DA wresting a rural ward from the African National Congress (ANC) in George, while the PA seized a Stellenbosch seat from the DA.
On Wednesday, in ward 25 (Uniondale), near George, the DA secured 43% of the vote, up sharply from 18% in 2021, to take the seat from the ANC, which slumped to 14% from 30%.
The PA surged into second place with 34%, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) held steady at 9%.
Voter turnout was recorded at 58%, slightly up from the previous election.
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The result followed a high-profile defection by former ANC councillor Jarques Esau, who retained the ward under DA colours.
The DA’s victory follows a strong run by the PA in the George area, where it had previously secured four consecutive by-election wins.
On social media platform X, the DA in the Western Cape celebrated the win.
“George Ward 25 (Uniondale) is binne[inside]! Congratulations to Jarques Esau, the newly elected DA councillor. Thank you to our voters! Julle het die regte keuse gemaak [you made the right decision],” the party posted.
Despite the loss, the PA made substantial inroads in Uniondale, jumping from negligible support in 2021 to 34%, consolidating its position as the primary challenger to the DA in the ward.
There was a noticeable absence of smaller parties such as the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners and GOOD.
Meanwhile, in Ward 15 in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, the PA delivered one of its most significant breakthroughs yet, winning 39% of the vote to unseat the DA, which dropped sharply to 31% from 48% in 2021.
The GOOD party finished third with 19%, while the ANC trailed on 9%.
Turnout stood at 47%, up from 43%.
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The result followed another notable defection, with former DA ward councillor Elsabe Vermeulen switching to the PA and successfully defending her seat under her new party banner.
The PA’s victory margin over the DA stood at 177 votes.
PA leader Gayton McKenzie framed the result as a broader political shift in the province.
“The Western Cape is green, the PA has entered the heartland of DA funders. We are unstoppable, our people are tired of DA rule. Helen Zille ran or swam away because she saw the tide turning and realised the end has arrived,” he said.
The Stellenbosch result reduces the DA’s dominance in the 45-seat council, where it now holds 27 seats, down from 28.
The PA, now with two seats, is tied with the EFF as the fourth-largest party in the municipality and has emerged as one of only three parties with ward representation.
The PA’s ability to penetrate traditional DA strongholds has become increasingly evident, with similar breakthroughs in Mossel Bay, Swartland and Drakenstein municipalities.
In George, however, the DA strengthened its position within the 55-seat council, increasing its tally to 25 seats, while the ANC dropped to nine.
The DA-led coalition with the Freedom Front Plus and the African Christian Democratic Party now commands 30 seats, maintaining a governing majority.
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The next by-elections are scheduled for 13 May, including contests in Orkney in North West and two closely watched races in Upington and Prieska in the Northern Cape, where the balance between the ANC, DA and PA is expected to be tested again.
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