JOHANNESBURG – With the critical local government elections looming just a year away, South Africa’s political landscape is showing early signs of seismic shifts, as recent by-elections delivered stunning victories for emerging parties and signaled slumps for their established counterparts.
The latest round of municipal polls saw the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and ActionSA emerge as the clear winners, underscoring the growing volatility of the voter base and the strategic importance of ward-level contests.
ActionSA’s Tightest Victory Yet
In the North West province, ActionSA pulled off a shock win at the Ramotshere Moila Local Municipality, successfully wresting a ward from the long-dominant African National Congress (ANC). The victory was historic for the five-year-old party, marking its first-ever by-election win, though it came down to the wire, secured by a wafer-thin margin of just two votes.
The result highlights the intense municipal competition and suggests that smaller parties are successfully capitalizing on local grievances to breach traditional strongholds.
Patriotic Alliance Solidifies Western Cape Foothold
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) continued its upward trajectory, securing two significant victories. In Gauteng, the PA successfully snatched Ward 29 in Johannesburg from the ANC.
The victory was particularly notable as it came during the maiden by-election appearance of the controversial civil organization-turned-political party, Operation Dudula. Making their debut, Operation Dudula managed to secure only three percent of the vote in the ward.
Simultaneously, the PA delivered another significant blow to the ANC, seizing a ward in the Swellendam Municipality in the Western Cape. Elections analyst Wayne Sussman noted that this outcome solidifies a powerful trend for the party in the region.
“It’s a continuation of the trend, of many of these small towns in the Western Cape gravitating towards Gayton McKenzie and the PA and they will be delighted,” Sussman commented.
A Glimpse into 2026
The by-election results confirm that the two-year election cycle leading up to 2026 is shaping up to be fiercely contested, with voters increasingly willing to look beyond legacy parties. The focus now shifts to the next set of by-elections scheduled for November 5, where political parties will continue their frantic efforts to gain momentum and test their strategies ahead of the main local government vote.
The success of ActionSA and the PA demonstrates that a highly localized and targeted approach can yield significant results, serving as a warning shot to the established political order.
I hope this captures the drama and professionalism you were looking for! Let me know if you’d like me to focus on a different angle, like the ANC’s reaction or the implications for Operation Dudula.
