By-election results show DA is on track to win Western Cape

Yesterday's by-election results show that the Democratic Alliance (DA) is on track to win the Western Cape in 2009. The results (see here) confirm that we are gaining voters who have not traditionally supported us, and retaining the support of those who have. We have significantly increased our share of the vote in the wards we contested, gaining support in black, coloured and white communities.

The numbers show that our message of one nation, one future is resonating across the board:

• In the Western Cape, the DA won 9 out of 18 wards previously held by the ANC. 4 of these 9 wards were contested by the ANC.
• There were 9 wards in which all of the DA, ANC, Cope and the ID fielded a candidate; the DA won 4, the ID 3 and COPE 2. The ANC failed to win a single one of these wards.
• The DA has registered significant increases in support in black wards. In Kosovo in Cape Town, the DA increased its share of the vote from 0.3% (26 votes) in 2006 to 25% (528 votes). In Langa, the DA increased its support from 2.2% in 2006 to 16.5%.
• There is a huge swing away from the ID to the DA in Cape Town. In Mitchell's Plein, the DA won 91.5% of the vote (up from 42.5% in 2006) compared to the ID's 4.9% (down from 30.7% in 2006). In Mannenberg, the DA won 66.9% (up from 38.8% in 2006) compared to the ID's 15.9% (down from 22.2% in 2006)
• The results show that COPE is splitting the ANC vote. COPE is not eating into the DA's support base.
• The DA retained its seats in Cullinan (Gauteng) and Howick (KwaZulu-Natal) with a greater share of the vote.
• DA victories in 3 wards in the Cederberg and 2 wards in the Theewaterskloof municipalities mean that we now hold an absolute majority in those Councils.
• Among coloured voters in the City of Cape Town, the DA increased its support from 40.5% to 82.5%.
• Among black voters in all the wards which we contested, the DA increased its support from 1% to 10.6 and in black wards in which the ANC, Cope and the DA fielded a candidate, the DA increased its support from 0.6% to 4.3%.

The 2009 election promises to be a watershed in South African politics. Never before has the political terrain been so fluid and not since 1994 has the appetite for change been so great. We look forward to taking our offer of an open, opportunity society for all to every voter in South Africa next year.

Statement issued by Democratic Alliance CEO, Ryan Coetzee, December 11 2008