In the latest round of by-elections the ANC failed to win back Newcastle, lost a ward in Mtubatuba to the IFP and lost control of Cederberg. However, it went up percentage wise in every by-election on Wednesday night. Despite short-term setbacks, there were some silver linings for the ruling pa.
The DA withstood a strong challenge from the Patriotic Alliance in Lambert’s Bay to retain a ward and allow the party and its coalition partners to take back control of Cederberg. The IFP had its second successive stunning by-election victory in KwaZulu-Natal with a big upset win in uMuziwabant.