By-elections: People of the Eastern Cape endorse the DA’s agenda for change

The Democratic Alliance (DA) grew from 88% to 96.01% in the ward 18 by-election in Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) yesterday, and from 6.24% to 24.94% in ward 9, Ingquza Hill Local Municipality.

The DA is delighted with these results and we welcome it as a testament to the trust that the people of the Eastern Cape are rapidly placing in the DA, and its agenda for change.

I am especially proud of the outstanding growth in rural Eastern Cape. The DA has made great strides in reaching out to these communities and engaging with them about their daily struggles.

Our growth in these wards and the ANC’s significant drop in support – especially in BCM, where they only managed to poll 123 votes – shows that the people of the Eastern Cape are fed-up with the corrupt and self-serving ANC and realise that only the DA can change their lives for the better.

It is clear that the people of the Eastern Cape are embracing and endorsing the DA’s agenda for change.

Where the DA governs, we prioritise better service delivery, orderly and safe communities and greater access to opportunities.

I thank each and every person who came out yesterday to endorse the change that the DA is bringing to the Eastern Cape.

We will continue working with communities across the province, as we work to bring change by building one South Africa for all.

DA retains Beaufort West ward with surge in support

The DA has triumphed in yesterday’s by-election in Beaufort West’s Ward 7, retaining the ward and ensuring DA-led governance continues in the municipality.
Voters in the Ward 7 by-election came out in their numbers to endorse the DA, growing our support from 46,8% in 2016 to 56,9% in the ward yesterday.
This is an endorsement of the DA’s brand of good governance, where voters recognise that only the DA continues to deliver better services, cuts corruption and creates jobs.
In absolute vote terms, over 660 more voters chose to vote DA in this ward yesterday, over our tally in 2016. This surge in support for the DA is very encouraging.
By-election after by-election voters continue to shift toward the DA, and this bodes very well for the run up to Election 2019.
The DA thanks every voter in Ward 7 who came out to support us for the trust that they have placed in the DA. Our every effort will continue to go into making progress in Beaufort West and turning around the municipality, together with our coalition partner, the KDF.
I would also like to thank every DA activist, public representative and staff member who worked tirelessly toward this victory together.

DA growth in Mangaung by-election a triumph

Strong growth by the Democratic Alliance in yesterday’s by-election in Ward 39 Mangaung, is a triumph for the party and shows increasing support for the DA in the Metro.
The DA surged in voter support, doubling our votes from the August 2016 elections, and bringing the ANC below 50% in this Ward for the first time. While the ANC nosedived by 6%, the DA grew by an outstanding 13% in this Ward.
This is a victory for the DA, and is in line with the trend of increasing DA support all across South Africa.
At the Ebenezer Pre-School voting station, in Morolong Township, DA support grew from 5,4% in 2016 to 19,4% yesterday. And at the Shammah Primary School voting station, in Taba Nchu, the DA achieved 24,1% of the vote yesterday, which is an enormous achievement in a voting district where the DA has previously obtained very few votes.
At both the Mmabana Community Hall voting station, and the Itireleng Tsoelopele Creche voting station, the DA beat the ANC for the first time. This shows that increasingly voters in areas previously considered ANC strongholds are making the choice to support the DA, and our brand of good governance, while turning their backs on Jacob Zuma’s ANC.
The DA is thrilled with this surge in support in Mangaung, and we thank the voters of Ward 39 who came out in their numbers to support us.
The DA looks forward to winning Ward 39 in future, as the trend continues to move us closer to shifting the just 8,5% now needed to overtake the ANC in this Ward.