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Patriotic Alliance surges in Johannesburg as MK cements gains in KZN by-elections
The latest round of by-elections brought notable shifts in South Africa’s political landscape. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) made major inroads in Johannesburg’s Ward 82, while uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) delivered another blow to the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), signalling growing regional momentum ahead of 2026.
Ward 82: PA storms to victory in Johannesburg’s most competitive ward
In Johannesburg’s west, the diverse Ward 82—spanning areas like Newclare, Newlands, Bosmont and Westbury—has long been a hotbed of close electoral contests. In 2021, the Democratic Alliance (DA) narrowly beat the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), with just 10% separating the top five parties. This time, it was the PA that broke away from the pack.
The PA more than doubled its 2021 vote share to claim the ward by a margin of 1,245 votes. The party surged in every voting district. In Claremont, once a DA stronghold, the PA climbed from 19% to 44%. In Newlands, the PA jumped from 9% to 25%, taking second place behind the DA. In historically ANC-leaning Kathrada Park, the PA climbed from 3% to 21%, overtaking several rivals.
Newclare, the PA’s strongest ground, delivered staggering numbers: one district rose from 26% to 61%, another from 30% to 56%. The party also took Bosmont from the DA and GOOD, rising from 6% to 32%. Westbury also fell to the PA, as they overtook the ACDP.
The ACDP came second overall, beating the DA by 236 votes. While losing some ground in Westbury, it held steady in other areas and saw modest gains. The DA, however, suffered significant losses. Once dominant in Newlands and Claremont, its support dropped drastically in both. Voter turnout in DA-supporting areas like Newlands was also weak, compounding its fall from first to third place.
The ANC, though still dominant in Kathrada Park, experienced a decline across the ward, including in its former footholds. GOOD, ActionSA and Al Jamah-ah, all of which previously performed well, either underperformed or didn’t contest. Al Jamah-ah’s 20% in Bosmont was a rare standout among smaller parties.
The win gives the PA another seat on the Johannesburg council, pushing its total to double digits. It’s now the only party to have gained multiple new seats in the metro since 2021.
Ward 99: DA dominates in Linden, but turnout dips
In Johannesburg’s affluent northern suburbs, the DA retained its grip on Ward 99 (Linden-Blairgowrie), crushing the ANC with 98% of the vote. This suburban ward, encompassing leafy areas like Robindale and Blairgowrie, has traditionally been a DA fortress.
Despite the overwhelming result, turnout was down to just 24% from 57% in the previous election. The DA will see this as a wake-up call ahead of 2026, especially given that no major challengers like ActionSA or Rise Mzansi contested the by-election.
KZN: MK gains continue as ANC loses another stronghold
In KwaDukuza’s Ward 28 (Shaka’s Kraal), MK scored a major win, flipping the ward from the ANC. Former ANC councillor Doeishee Govender, now running for MK, claimed victory for the third consecutive time—this time under a different banner. MK beat the ANC by 598 votes, winning both voting districts with ease. At the North Coast Agricultural College, where MK had trailed in 2024, it now took 65% of the vote.
This marks MK’s second by-election win in KZN in under a month, following its Richmond triumph. The ANC’s support in KwaDukuza continues to decline, now holding just 28 seats in the 59-seat council.
Ward 12 (uPhongolo): ANC edges MK in close three-way race
Along the Eswatini border in Zululand’s uPhongolo municipality, the ANC narrowly reclaimed Ward 12, earning 40% of the vote and holding off MK (31%) and the IFP (27%). The ward includes the rural village of Highlands and has historically been tightly contested between the ANC and IFP.
MK had been dominant in the 2024 provincial vote here, but the ANC rebounded in the by-election, capitalising on weakened IFP and EFF performances. The NFP and EFF both faded, with the latter’s share collapsing from 12% to just 1%.
This win helps the ANC stabilise its standing in uPhongolo, where the IFP leads the 29-seat council with 15 seats. The ANC holds 10, while smaller parties share the remainder.
Turnout trends and broader takeaways
Turnout varied widely. In Ward 82, just 27% of voters turned out compared to 50% in 2021. In Ward 99, participation dropped from 57% to 24%. KwaDukuza saw a turnout spike from 52% to 60%, the highest of the by-elections.
The by-election results underline how voter volatility is reshaping local politics. The PA’s rise in Johannesburg and MK’s growing KZN presence are clear signs that established parties face serious regional threats as 2026 looms.
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Sourced:Daily Maverick
