Three by-elections were across South Africa yesterday, with the ANC defending two seats and the DA gaining one.

In Emalahleni (Cacadu) in the Eastern Cape the ANC easily defended a seat, winning over 90% of the vote. The only other party which stood a candidate was the PAC, which won 7% of the vote.

In Fetakgomo Tubatse (Burgersfort) the ANC again didn’t face too much of a challenge, with the party securing nearly 80% of the vote in yesterday’s poll. The EFF was the only party to put up much of a challenge, with its candidate winning just over 15% of the vote.

The SACP, which recently said it would contest elections alone, also fielded a candidate but won less than 1% of the vote.

In Siyancuma (Douglas) in the Northern Cape the DA gained a ward. It had previously been held by an independent, Wim van Bergen, who passed away. Van Bergen had also previously served as the municipality’s mayor.

In yesterday’s by-election the DA won 56% of the vote, compared to the 34% of the vote it won in the 2021 local government poll. It is likely that most of Van Bergen’s supporters opted to support the DA in the by-election.

The ANC won just over 30% of the vote, while the PA managed just over 6%.

The DA now holds four seats on the 13-member council, with the ANC holding six.

This result will be a disappointment for the PA, which has had a series of victories in a number of by-elections in rural Cape towns.

Overall the results show that the ANC is still solid in much of rural South Africa while the DA will be pleased with its victory and its holding off of challenge from the PA.