ANC welcomes by-election results
22 April 2021
The African National Congress welcomes the outcome of the municipal by-elections held on 21 April 2021, with the ANC securing an overwhelming win of 86% of the 14 wards contested. The ANC is humbled by the confidence the voters continue to demonstrate in its leadership, as demonstrated by these outcomes.
These by-elections took place on the backdrop of the announcement by President Ramaphosa of the date for the next local government elections. We welcome the President's announcement of 27 October 2021 as the date on which South Africans will go to the polls to vote for local government, which brings certainty on the matter. We will not support any postponement of elections, unless such proposal is based on a recommendation by the IEC supported by scientific rationale that holding an election will place the lives of citizens at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are confident that our consistently growing support, demonstrated at each by-election clearly demonstrates the resonance of our message and efforts to improve the conditions of our people on the ground with the electorate.
The ANC retained 10 wards nationally, won 2 wards from the IFP in Maphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal and from the DA in Knysna in the Western Cape, respectively.
The ANC's performance broken down per Province is as follows:
In KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC retained its 4 seats and won 1 seat from the IFP.
In Mpumalanga, the ANC retained its 1 seat.
In Limpopo, the ANC retained its 1 seat.
In the North-West the ANC retained its 1 seat.
In the Northern Cape the ANC retained its 2 seats.
In Western Cape the ANC retained its 1 seat and won 1 seat from the DA.
We thank all South Africans who came out to cast their votes and demonstrated the resilience of our democracy. We thank the hundreds of volunteers who reached out to the voters across the country and ensured that the ANC remains the people's choice.
As we prepare for the local government elections later in the year, we will continue to ensure that our campaign is grounded on humility, commitment to making a better life for all a lived reality and selecting candidates that are rooted among their communities.
Issued by Fikile Mbalula, Head of elections, 22 April 2021
