First published in the Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of 27 October as the date for this year’s local government elections has set into motion the campaigning for what will definitely be a highly contested poll.
Not only will these local government elections be taking place under unique circumstances given the Covid-19 pandemic, they will also give a clear indication of whether the parties’ losses or gains of 2016 have been reversed at all.
The by-elections held on Wednesday 21 April would have boosted the ANC’s ego while giving the DA something to be concerned about. The EFF will also have something to smile about, having increased its voter share, although it did not win any of the contested wards.
Lorraine Opperman back to haunt DA heraldlive.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from heraldlive.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fired DA councillor snatches ward from former party for ANC After winning Knysna ward in 2019, Lorraine Opperman was sacked in February for voting with ANC 23 April 2021 - 12:10 By Raahil Sain ANC candidate Lorraine Opperman won ward 11 in Knysna. Image: supplied
Just two months after being booted out of the DA for voting with the opposition, Lorraine Opperman has come back to haunt the party as she retained control of Knysna s ward 11 but this time winning it for the ANC.
This has tightened the ANC, COPE and Knysna Unity Congress (KUC) coalition’s grip on power in the town as they now have a combined 11 seats in the 20-seat local authority.
Good showing for ANC in by-elections, but steady growth for EFF
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The African National Congress (ANC) had the best performance in Wednesday s by-elections, the first since November, holding onto all of its wards and winning two more.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) continued its upward trend, and although their candidates didn t win any wards, they managed to build support in wards where they had little before.
The ANC almost registered a clean sweep in the by-elections, holding on in 10 wards and grabbing two more seats from the DA and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), according to preliminary results released on Thursday.
Of the 14 by-elections held countrywide on Wednesday, the ANC retained 10 wards and won an extra two. The DA retained one ward and lost one, as did the IFP.
We will not support any postponement of elections, unless such proposal is based on a recommendation by the Independent Electoral Commission of SA
ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula
The results show that the ANC continues to do well despite its internal woes. The results announcement on Thursday came a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the local government elections will be held on October 27.