ANC snatches ward in Alexandra from DA, which retains three
Both parties have claimed victory in the contest.
IEC election equipment at Hoerskool Linden, 6 May 2019 ahead of the general elections to take place on the 8th May 2019. Picture Neil McCartney
The Democratic Alliance (DA) retained wards 54, 83 and 112 in by-elections on Wednesday, while losing Ward 109 to the ANC.
The party said they were encouraged that they retained three wards “despite challenging circumstances”.
They said it was “regrettable” that the African National Congress (ANC) had managed to take hold of another ward in Johannesburg.
“We fought a tough campaign but recognise that we have much work ahead of us to turn things around in the metro and the ward.”
The ANC has claimed its lone triumph as a major victory for the party, which lost control of the metro in 2016.
Wards 54 in the south of Johannesburg and 112 in Midrand became vacant after the DA promoted its councillors to the Gauteng Legislature.
In ward 83 in Roodepoort, a DA councillor died. In ward 109 in Alexandra, the party’s councillor resigned.
The ANC in Johannesburg said that winning Ward 109 in Alexandra from the DA indicated voters’ renewed confidence in the party.
“This is a sign of the DA in disarray and the people of Alex, Malboro and Kelvin came out to demonstrate with their vote that the DA is not a party to be trusted,” ANC member Jolidee Matongo told the SABC.
Municipal elections will take place in 2021.
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