ANC Statement on 7 August By-elections

The African National Congress welcomes the outcomes of the 20 by-elections held in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape yesterday 7 August 2013. Of the 20 wards contested, the African National Congress previously held 17 and has retained 15 of these. 

The African National Congress is particularly pleased that we are making inroads into historically opposition wards particularly in the Western Cape. In all the wards successfully defended by the opposition, they did so with a smaller margin than in the Local Government elections, proving decisively that our people are indeed seeing through the noise being made about progress and equal opportunity were there is none. The ANC, on the other hand, has increased its percentage of the votes in many of our wards.

The people of South Africa have once again reaffirmed their confidence in the African National Congress and renewed our mandate to continue with the commendable work of transforming their lives for the better. As the country prepares for the 2014 General Elections, the African National Congress is thankful of and humbled by the overwhelming support of the majority of South Africans. The organisation thanks every person who participated in these by-elections, who by so doing once again contributed to the strengthening of our young democracy, an exercise neither the voter nor those who are entrusted with votes should ever take lightly.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, August 8 2013

Source: The IEC

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