The recent by-elections in the Western Cape have shown that the province’s voters are becoming increasingly unpredictable. One notable result was in Stellenbosch, where the Patriotic Alliance (PA) made significant gains, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) won a ward in George that was previously held by the African National Congress (ANC).
These results, confirmed by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), indicate that there will be intense political competition in the lead-up to the 2026/27 local government elections.
A Shift in Stellenbosch’s Electoral Landscape
In Ward 16 of the Stellenbosch Municipality, also known as Cloetesville, Elsabe Vermeulen won a notable victory for the PA. This was a significant upset, as Vermeulen had previously been a DA ward councillor but defected to the PA and managed to hold onto her seat under her new party’s banner.
The PA secured 39.48% of the vote, which was enough to overturn the DA’s previous dominance in the area. The DA had won 47.65% of the vote in the 2021 municipal elections. Voter turnout was high, with 46.51% of eligible voters casting their ballots.
PA president Gayton McKenzie was overjoyed by the result and expressed his feelings on social media. In a post titled ‘Blue Wall is broken’, McKenzie wrote: ‘If you understand politics, you will appreciate the gravity of this result (I will elaborate later). Patriots I have no words for now, I’m speechless currently. Let me savor this win, I will write about the importance of this victory shortly. Thank you 
DA Gains Ground in George
In Ward 25 of the George Municipality, also known as Uniondale, Jarques Denvar Esau won the seat for the DA. This was another significant result, as Esau had previously been an ANC councillor but defected to the DA and managed to hold onto the ward.
The DA increased its support in the area to 42.97%, up from 29.80% in 2021. The ANC, on the other hand, suffered a significant decline, dropping to 14%. The PA emerged as a strong contender, winning 34% of the vote, while the EFF maintained a steady 9% share. Voter turnout in the ward was high, with 58.23% of eligible voters casting their ballots.
